Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A graft anchor comprising: an anchor member configured for placement in bone tissue, said anchor member defining an opening, an inner member insertable and securable into said anchor member opening, and a fastener for applying a holding force to a graft, said fastener having a tissue facing surface defining a protective, walled channel for at least partially containing said graft, said channel substantially traversing said tissue facing surface of said fastener, said fastener being configured such that insertion and securing of said inner member into said anchor member opening results in said holding force being applied to said graft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
A graft anchor comprising: an anchor member configured for placement in bone tissue, said anchor member defining an opening, an inner member insertable and securable into said anchor member opening, and a fastener for applying a holding force to a graft, said fastener having a tissue facing surface defining a protective, walled channel for at least partially containing said graft, said channel substantially traversing said tissue facing surface of said fastener, said fastener being configured such that insertion and securing of said inner member into said anchor member opening results in said holding force being applied to said graft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The graft anchor of claim 1 wherein said anchor member is of limited length to maintain a distal end of the anchor member within the bone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The graft anchor of claim 1 wherein said anchor member opening is a threaded axial bore.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The graft anchor of claim 3 wherein said axial bore includes a distal drive opening for receiving a drive tool.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The graft anchor of claim 4 wherein said distal drive opening is hexagonally shaped.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The graft anchor of claim 3 wherein said inner member includes external threads for mating with threads of said threaded axial bore.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The graft anchor of claim 6 wherein said inner member includes a smooth shank proximal of said external threads.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The graft anchor of claim 1 wherein said anchor member includes external threads.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The graft anchor of claim 8 wherein said external threads are self-tapping.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The graft anchor of claim 1 wherein said inner member includes a proximal drive opening for receiving a drive tool.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The graft anchor of claim 10 wherein said proximal drive opening is hexagonally shaped.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The graft anchor of claim 1 wherein said fastener includes a guide defining said channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The graft anchor of claim 1 wherein said fastener includes a plurality of protective, walled channels for substantially containing the graft, said channels substantially traversing said tissue facing surface of said fastener.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The graft anchor of claim 1 wherein said fastener includes a fastener body and at least one protrusion extending from said fastener body for penetrating bone tissue.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The graft anchor of claim 14 further including a plurality of protrusions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The graft anchor of claim 14 wherein said fastener further includes a reinforcing member contained within said fastener body, said fastener body having a strength less than said reinforcing member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The graft anchor of claim 1 wherein said fastener defines a through bore.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The graft anchor of claim 17 wherein said fastener includes a lip surrounding said through bore which separates the graft from said through bore.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The graft anchor of claim 1 wherein said fastener body has a generally circular shape.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The graft anchor of claim 19 wherein said fastener body includes two flat sides.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
191 words
A graft anchor comprising: an anchor member configured for placement in bone tissue, said anchor member being of limited length to maintain a distal end of the anchor member within the bone, said anchor member comprising an axial bore having an internal threaded section and a distal drive opening for receiving a drive tool, said anchor member further having external, self-tapping threads, an inner member having external threads and a proximal drive opening for receiving said drive tool, said inner member being threadedly insertable and securable in said anchor member axial bore, and a fastener for applying a holding force to a graft, said fastener including a fastener body and at least one protrusion extending from a tissue facing surface of said fastener body for penetrating bone tissue, said tissue facing surface defining a protective, walled channel for at least partially containing the graft, said channel substantially traversing said tissue facing surface of said fastener, said fastener being configured such that insertion and securing of said inner member through a central bore of said fastener and into said anchor member opening results in said holding force being applied to said graft.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
191 words
A graft anchor comprising: an anchor member configured for placement in bone tissue, said anchor member being of limited length to maintain a distal end of the anchor member within the bone, said anchor member comprising an axial bore having an internal threaded section and a distal drive opening for receiving a drive tool, said anchor member further having external, self-tapping threads, an inner member having external threads and a proximal drive opening for receiving said drive tool, said inner member being threadedly insertable and securable in said anchor member axial bore, and a fastener for applying a holding force to a graft, said fastener including a fastener body and at least one protrusion extending from a tissue facing surface of said fastener body for penetrating bone tissue, said tissue facing surface defining a protective, walled channel for at least partially containing the graft, said channel substantially traversing said tissue facing surface of said fastener, said fastener being configured such that insertion and securing of said inner member through a central bore of said fastener and into said anchor member opening results in said holding force being applied to said graft.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
105 words
A graft anchor comprising: an anchor member configured for placement in bone tissue substantially below a surface of the bone tissue, said anchor member defining an opening, an inner member insertable into said anchor member opening, said inner member including a smooth proximal shank, and a fastener for applying a holding force to a graft, said fastener being configured such that insertion and securing of said inner member in said anchor member opening results in said holding force being applied to said graft, said inner member smooth proximal shank protecting said graft during insertion and securing of said inner member in said anchor member opening.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
105 words
A graft anchor comprising: an anchor member configured for placement in bone tissue substantially below a surface of the bone tissue, said anchor member defining an opening, an inner member insertable into said anchor member opening, said inner member including a smooth proximal shank, and a fastener for applying a holding force to a graft, said fastener being configured such that insertion and securing of said inner member in said anchor member opening results in said holding force being applied to said graft, said inner member smooth proximal shank protecting said graft during insertion and securing of said inner member in said anchor member opening.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
84 words
A graft anchor comprising: an anchor member configured for placement in bone tissue, said anchor member defining an opening, an inner member insertable and securable into said anchor member opening, and a fastener for applying a holding force to a graft, said fastener defining a channel for receiving said graft and including two, opposed flat sides, said fastener being configured such that insertion and securing of said inner member into said anchor member opening results in said holding force being applied to said graft.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
84 words
A graft anchor comprising: an anchor member configured for placement in bone tissue, said anchor member defining an opening, an inner member insertable and securable into said anchor member opening, and a fastener for applying a holding force to a graft, said fastener defining a channel for receiving said graft and including two, opposed flat sides, said fastener being configured such that insertion and securing of said inner member into said anchor member opening results in said holding force being applied to said graft.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The graft anchor of claim 22 wherein said inner member has a rounded distal end.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The graft anchor of claim 22 wherein said fastener defines a through bore.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The graft anchor of claim 25 wherein said fastener includes a lip surrounding said through bore for separating said graft from said through bore.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
The graft anchor of claim 23 wherein said channel substantially traverses a tissue facing surface of said fastener, and said flat sides are substantially parallel to said channel.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
The graft anchor of claim 23 wherein said channel substantially traverses a tissue facing surface of said fastener, and said flat sides are substantially perpendicular to said channel.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
95 words
A graft anchor comprising: an anchor member configured for placement in bone tissue, said anchor member defining an opening, an inner member insertable and securable into said anchor member opening, and a fastener for applying a holding force to a graft, said fastener including a fastener body and a reinforcing member contained within said fastener body, said fastener body having a strength less than said reinforcing member, said fastener being configured such that insertion and securing of said inner member into said anchor member opening results in said holding force being applied to said graft.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
95 words
A graft anchor comprising: an anchor member configured for placement in bone tissue, said anchor member defining an opening, an inner member insertable and securable into said anchor member opening, and a fastener for applying a holding force to a graft, said fastener including a fastener body and a reinforcing member contained within said fastener body, said fastener body having a strength less than said reinforcing member, said fastener being configured such that insertion and securing of said inner member into said anchor member opening results in said holding force being applied to said graft.