Suture anchor and driver

Claim 2

A suture anchor and driver device comprising: a suture anchor, said anchor comprising a proximal end for insertion into bone tissue, a central threaded portion, and a distal end of generally cylindrical shape having a diameter through a central axis, wherein said distal end is adapted to define a passage along the diameter of said distal end, and is further adapted to engage a driver; a driver having a proximal end releasably engaged with the distal end of said suture anchor, and an elongated central portion with a substantially cylindrical outer surface; wherein said suture anchor and driver are adapted to define a suture path along the outside surface of said driver in a longitudinal fashion, along the passage defined by the distal end of said suture anchor, and returning along the outside surface of said driver in a longitudinal fashion; and wherein the distal end of the suture anchor has a first cross-sectional area and the central portion of the driver has a third cross-sectional area, and wherein said first cross-sectional area is greater than said third cross-sectional area.

Claim 3

The suture anchor and driver device of claim 1 wherein the passage defined by the distal end of said suture anchor further defines two ends of said passage, each said end being located on opposing sides of said distal end, wherein the distal end is further adapted to define two grooves located opposing sides of said distal end, wherein a first said groove begins near the first end of said passage and the second said groove begins near the second end of said passage, and said first and second grooves extend longitudinally in the distal direction.

Claim 4

The suture anchor and driver device of claim 1 wherein said distal end further defines a U-shaped groove which extends longitudinally along opposing sides of said distal end and across a diameter of said distal end.

Claim 5

The suture anchor and driver device of claim 3 wherein the proximal end of said driver designed to engage the distal end of said suture anchor, wherein said proximal end further comprises a U-shaped protrusion.

Claim 6

The suture anchor and driver device of claim 1 wherein said driver further comprises a flange located at the distal end of said elongated central portion, adapted to aid the user in positioning said suture anchor and driver device.

Claim 7

The suture anchor and driver device of claim 5 wherein said device further includes a tissue protector tube adapted to fit over said driver.

Claim 8

The suture anchor and driver device of claim 1 wherein said driver further comprises a suture retainer adapted to hold suture material in place.

Claim 9

The suture anchor and driver device of claim 1 wherein said driver is releasably coupled to a handle.

Claim 10

The suture anchor and driver device of claim 1 wherein said passage is defined by said distal end of the suture anchor to allow at least two strands of suture material to pass through said passage.

Claim 11

The suture anchor and driver device of claim 1 wherein the proximal end of the driver has a second cross-sectional area, and wherein the first cross-sectional area of the distal end of the suture anchor is greater than said second cross-sectional area.

Claim 12

A suture anchor and driver device comprising: a suture anchor, said anchor comprising a proximal end for insertion into bone tissue, a central threaded portion, and a distal end of substantially cylindrical shape having a diameter through a central axis and an outer circumference, wherein said distal end is adapted to define a passage and a slot, wherein the passage is along the diameter of said distal end and the slot extending outwardly from said passage to the circumference of the suture anchor, and wherein said distal end is further adapted to engage a driver; a driver having a proximal end releasably engaged with the distal end of said suture anchor, and an elongated central portion with a substantially cylindrical outer surface; and wherein said suture anchor and driver are adapted to define a suture path along the outside surface of said driver in a longitudinal fashion, through the passage defined by the distal end of said suture anchor, and returning along the outside surface of said driver in a longitudinal fashion.

Claim 13

A suture anchor and driver device comprising: a suture anchor, said anchor comprising a proximal end for insertion into bone tissue, a central threaded portion, and a distal end of substantially cylindrical shape having a diameter through a central axis and an outer circumference, wherein said distal end is adapted to define a passage and a slot, wherein the passage is along the diameter of said distal end and the slot extending outwardly from said passage to the circumference of the suture anchor, and wherein said distal end is further adapted to engage a driver; a driver having a proximal end releasably engaged with the distal end of said suture anchor, and an elongated central portion with a substantially cylindrical outer surface; and wherein said suture anchor and driver are adapted to define a suture path along the outside surface of said driver in a longitudinal fashion, through the passage defined by the distal end of said suture anchor, and returning along the outside surface of said driver in a longitudinal fashion.

Claim 14

The suture anchor and driver device of claim 11 wherein the diameter of said distal end along said slot has a first end and second end, and wherein said distal end is adapted to define first and second grooves located on opposing sides of said distal end, wherein said first groove begins near the first end of said diameter and said second groove begins near the second end of said diameter, and said first and second grooves extend longitudinally in the distal direction.

Claim 15

The suture anchor and driver device of claim 11 wherein said distal end is further adapted to define a U-shaped groove.

Claim 16

The suture anchor and driver device of claim 13 wherein the proximal end of said driver designed to engage the distal end of said suture anchor, wherein said proximal end further comprises a U-shaped protrusion.

Claim 17

The suture anchor and driver device of claim 11 wherein the distal end of the suture anchor has a first cross-sectional area and the proximal end of the driver has a second cross-sectional area, and wherein the first cross-sectional area is greater than said second cross-sectional area.

Claim 18

The suture anchor and driver device of claim 15 wherein the central portion of said driver has a third cross-sectional area, wherein said first cross-sectional area is greater than said third cross-sectional area.

Claim 19

The suture anchor and driver of claim 11 wherein said driver further comprises a flange located at the distal end of said elongated central portion adapted to aid the user in positioning said suture anchor and driver device.

Claim 20

The suture anchor and driver device of claim 11 wherein said device further includes a tissue protector tube adapted to fit over said driver.

Claim 21

The suture anchor and driver device of claim 11 wherein said driver further comprises a suture retainer adapted to hold suture material in place.

Claim 22

The suture anchor and driver device of claim 11 wherein said driver is releasably coupled to a handle.

Claim 23

The suture anchor and driver device of claim 11 wherein said passage is defined by said distal end of the suture anchor to allow at least two strands of suture material to pass through said passage.

Claim 24

The suture anchor and driver device of claim 11 wherein the slot is at an angle of at least ninety degrees with the distal end of the central axis.

Claim 25

A suture anchoring device comprising: a suture anchor, said anchor comprising a proximal end for insertion into bone tissue, a central threaded portion, and a distal end of substantially cylindrical shape having a diameter through a central axis, wherein said distal end is adapted to define a passage along the diameter of said distal end, wherein the passage defined by the distal end of said suture anchor further defines first and second ends of said passage, said ends located on opposing sides of said distal end, wherein the distal end is adapted to define first and second grooves located on opposing sides of said distal end, wherein said first groove begins near the first end of said passage and said second groove begins near the second end of said passage, and said first and second grooves extend longitudinally in the distal direction, and wherein said distal end further defines a U-shaped groove adapted to engage a driver; a driver releasably engaged with the distal end of said suture anchor, said driver having a substantially cylindrical outer surface, and wherein said driver comprises: a proximal end designed to engage the distal end of said suture anchor, wherein said proximal end further comprises a U-shaped protrusion; a flange adapted to aid the user in positioning said suture anchor and driver device; and wherein said suture anchor and driver are adapted to define a suture path along the outside surface of said driver in a longitudinal fashion, through the passage defined by the distal end of said suture anchor, and returning along the outside surface of said driver in a longitudinal fashion; and wherein the distal end of the suture anchor has a first cross-sectional area and the central portion of the driver has a third cross-sectional area, and wherein said first cross-sectional area is greater than said third cross-sectional area.

Claim 26

A suture anchoring device comprising: a suture anchor, said anchor comprising a proximal end for insertion into bone tissue, a central threaded portion, and a distal end of substantially cylindrical shape having a diameter through a central axis, wherein said distal end is adapted to define a passage along the diameter of said distal end, wherein the passage defined by the distal end of said suture anchor further defines first and second ends of said passage, said ends located on opposing sides of said distal end, wherein the distal end is adapted to define first and second grooves located on opposing sides of said distal end, wherein said first groove begins near the first end of said passage and said second groove begins near the second end of said passage, and said first and second grooves extend longitudinally in the distal direction, and wherein said distal end further defines a U-shaped groove adapted to engage a driver; a driver releasably engaged with the distal end of said suture anchor, said driver having a substantially cylindrical outer surface, and wherein said driver comprises: a proximal end designed to engage the distal end of said suture anchor, wherein said proximal end further comprises a U-shaped protrusion; a flange adapted to aid the user in positioning said suture anchor and driver device; and wherein said suture anchor and driver are adapted to define a suture path along the outside surface of said driver in a longitudinal fashion, through the passage defined by the distal end of said suture anchor, and returning along the outside surface of said driver in a longitudinal fashion; and wherein the distal end of the suture anchor has a first cross-sectional area and the central portion of the driver has a third cross-sectional area, and wherein said first cross-sectional area is greater than said third cross-sectional area.

Claim 27

A suture anchoring device comprising: a suture anchor, said anchor comprising a proximal end for insertion into bone tissue, a central threaded portion, and a distal end of substantially cylindrical shape having a diameter through a central axis and an outer circumference, wherein said distal end is adapted to define a passage and a slot, wherein the passage is along the diameter of said distal end and the slot extending outwardly from said passage to the circumference of the suture anchor, wherein the passage defined by the distal end of the suture anchor has a first and second end, and wherein said distal end is adapted to define first and second grooves located on opposing sides of said distal end, wherein said first groove begins near the first end of said passage and said second groove begins near the second end of said passage, and said first and second grooves extend longitudinally in the distal direction, and wherein said distal end is further adapted to define a U-shaped groove to engage a driver; a driver having a proximal end releasably engaged with the distal end of said suture anchor, and an elongated central portion with a substantially cylindrical outer surface, and wherein said driver comprises: a proximal end designed to engage the distal end of said suture anchor, wherein said proximal end further comprises a U-shaped protrusion; a flange adapted to aid the user in positioning said suture anchor and driver device; and wherein said suture anchor and driver are adapted to define a suture path along the outside surface of said driver in a longitudinal fashion, through the passage defined by the distal end of said suture anchor, and returning along the outside surface of said driver in a longitudinal fashion.

Claim 28

A suture anchoring device comprising: a suture anchor, said anchor comprising a proximal end for insertion into bone tissue, a central threaded portion, and a distal end of substantially cylindrical shape having a diameter through a central axis and an outer circumference, wherein said distal end is adapted to define a passage and a slot, wherein the passage is along the diameter of said distal end and the slot extending outwardly from said passage to the circumference of the suture anchor, wherein the passage defined by the distal end of the suture anchor has a first and second end, and wherein said distal end is adapted to define first and second grooves located on opposing sides of said distal end, wherein said first groove begins near the first end of said passage and said second groove begins near the second end of said passage, and said first and second grooves extend longitudinally in the distal direction, and wherein said distal end is further adapted to define a U-shaped groove to engage a driver; a driver having a proximal end releasably engaged with the distal end of said suture anchor, and an elongated central portion with a substantially cylindrical outer surface, and wherein said driver comprises: a proximal end designed to engage the distal end of said suture anchor, wherein said proximal end further comprises a U-shaped protrusion; a flange adapted to aid the user in positioning said suture anchor and driver device; and wherein said suture anchor and driver are adapted to define a suture path along the outside surface of said driver in a longitudinal fashion, through the passage defined by the distal end of said suture anchor, and returning along the outside surface of said driver in a longitudinal fashion.