Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
An anchor for securing a suture to bone, comprising: an elongated body having a proximal region terminating in a proximal end, and a distal region terminating in a distal end configured for insertion into a hole in the bone; said proximal region including an element configured for positive axial interengagement with a corresponding element of a driver for insertion of said anchor into the hole, said element of said proximal region including one of a protrusion or a recess which axially interlocks with a corresponding recess or protrusion, respectively, of the corresponding driver element; at least one ridge, disposed on an exterior surface of said body, for engaging the bone after insertion to resist withdrawal of said anchor; and a suture mount carried by said elongated body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
An anchor for securing a suture to bone, comprising: an elongated body having a proximal region terminating in a proximal end, and a distal region terminating in a distal end configured for insertion into a hole in the bone; said proximal region including an element configured for positive axial interengagement with a corresponding element of a driver for insertion of said anchor into the hole, said element of said proximal region including one of a protrusion or a recess which axially interlocks with a corresponding recess or protrusion, respectively, of the corresponding driver element; at least one ridge, disposed on an exterior surface of said body, for engaging the bone after insertion to resist withdrawal of said anchor; and a suture mount carried by said elongated body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The anchor of claim 1 wherein said recess includes an opening in said proximal region of said anchor or in said driver.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The anchor of claim 1 in which said element of said anchor includes a projection extending from said elongated body for engaging a matching socket of the corresponding driver element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The anchor of claim 1 in which said element of said anchor is narrower in cross-section along a first dimension than along another cross-sectional dimension.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The anchor of claim 1 in which said element of said anchor includes a socket defined by said elongated body which has an opening communicating with said proximal end of said body, and said socket is narrower in cross-section along a first dimension than along another cross-sectional dimension.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The anchor of claim 5 in which said socket also becomes smaller in width in said first dimension progressing distally to a distal base of said socket.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The anchor of claim 1 in which said elongated body further defines a passageway for receiving a guide wire during insertion of said anchor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The anchor of claim 7 in which said suture mount includes a hole in said elongated body, and said passageway does not intersect said hole.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The anchor of claim 1 wherein said element of said proximal region of said anchor is configured to provide a snap fit with the corresponding element of the driver.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The anchor of claim 9 wherein said element of said proximal region of said anchor is further configured so that the snap fit is sufficiently strong to allow said anchor to be removed from the bone hole after insertion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The anchor of claim 1 wherein said element of said proximal region of said anchor comprises a projection on said elongated body and the element of the driver includes a recess that receives said projection to provide the positive axial interengagement.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The anchor of claim 1 wherein said element of said proximal region of said anchor comprises a recess on said elongated body and the element of the driver includes a projection which is received in the recess to provide the positive axial interengagement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
155 words
An anchor and driver assembly comprising: an anchor member including an elongated body having a proximal region terminating in a proximal end, and a distal region terminating in a distal end configured for insertion into a hole in a bone; a driver member having a handle member and a shaft member, said shaft member having a drive element at its distal end; said proximal region of said anchor member including an element configured for positive axial interengagement with said drive element for insertion of said anchor into the hole by said driver member, said element of said anchor member including one of a protrusion or a recess which axially interlocks with a corresponding recess or protrusion, respectively, of said drive element; at least one ridge, disposed on an exterior surface of said body, for engaging the bone after insertion to resist withdrawal of said anchor member; and a suture mount carried by said elongated body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
155 words
An anchor and driver assembly comprising: an anchor member including an elongated body having a proximal region terminating in a proximal end, and a distal region terminating in a distal end configured for insertion into a hole in a bone; a driver member having a handle member and a shaft member, said shaft member having a drive element at its distal end; said proximal region of said anchor member including an element configured for positive axial interengagement with said drive element for insertion of said anchor into the hole by said driver member, said element of said anchor member including one of a protrusion or a recess which axially interlocks with a corresponding recess or protrusion, respectively, of said drive element; at least one ridge, disposed on an exterior surface of said body, for engaging the bone after insertion to resist withdrawal of said anchor member; and a suture mount carried by said elongated body.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The assembly of claim 13 wherein said driver member has a passageway therethrough, and said anchor member has an opening therein communicable with said passageway and with said suture mount.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The assembly of claim 13 further comprising a suture member attached to said anchor member by said suture mount, passing through said opening, and being positioned in said passageway.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The anchor of claim 13 in which said anchor member and said driver member each define a passageway alignable with each other to receive a guide wire through both said passageways to assist placement during insertion of said anchor member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The assembly of claim 13 wherein said driver element includes a pin arranged transversely to a longitudinal axis of said shaft member, and said element of said anchor member includes a socket in said elongated body for receiving said pin.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
The assembly of claim 17 wherein said socket includes a slot having an open proximal end and a closed distal end, said closed distal end being substantially the same size as said pin and said slot being narrower than said pin, thereby to provide the positive axial interengagement with said pin.