Anchor and anchor installation tool and method
First Claim
1. Apparatus for inserting an anchor into a bore in a medium, the anchor being adapted to engage the walls of the bore for securing the anchor into the medium, the apparatus comprising:
- a first manually graspable member having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis, the distal end being adapted to releasably receive an anchor, said manually graspable member having a central opening therethrough, the proximal end of the manually graspable member having a pivotable handle extending therefrom;
a second member movable longitudinally in the central opening attached to said pivotable handle and to said anchor;
a release member releasably coupling said anchor to said second member;
said pivotable handle being pivotable with respect to said first member about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first member and exerting a force longitudinally on said second member as said handle pivots to move said second member longitudinally in said first member and exert a force on said anchor connected thereto to deform said anchor to cause said anchor to engage the walls of the medium thereby to secure the anchor in the medium;
said longitudinal force exerted on said second member as said handle pivots further acting on said release member to separate said anchor from said second member after said anchor has deformed to engage the walls of the bore.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for inserting an anchor into a bore in a medium, the anchor being adapted to engage the walls of the bore for securing the anchor into the medium. The bore is sized slightly larger than the outside diameter of the anchor in its undeployed condition. The apparatus includes a first manually graspable member having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being adapted to releasably receive the anchor. The manually graspable member has a central opening therethrough, the proximal end of the manually graspable member having a pivotable handle extending therefrom. A second member is movable longitudinally in the central opening and is attached to the pivotable handle and to the anchor. A release member couples the anchor to the second member. The pivotable handle is pivotable with respect to the first member and exerts a force longitudinally on the second member to move the second member longitudinally in the first member. This movement exerts a force on the anchor connected thereto to deform the anchor to cause the anchor to engage the walls of the medium thereby to secure the anchor in the medium. The force exerted on the second member further acts on the release member to separate the anchor from the second member when the anchor has deformed to engage the walls of the bore.
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Citations
65 Claims
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1. Apparatus for inserting an anchor into a bore in a medium, the anchor being adapted to engage the walls of the bore for securing the anchor into the medium, the apparatus comprising:
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a first manually graspable member having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis, the distal end being adapted to releasably receive an anchor, said manually graspable member having a central opening therethrough, the proximal end of the manually graspable member having a pivotable handle extending therefrom; a second member movable longitudinally in the central opening attached to said pivotable handle and to said anchor; a release member releasably coupling said anchor to said second member; said pivotable handle being pivotable with respect to said first member about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first member and exerting a force longitudinally on said second member as said handle pivots to move said second member longitudinally in said first member and exert a force on said anchor connected thereto to deform said anchor to cause said anchor to engage the walls of the medium thereby to secure the anchor in the medium; said longitudinal force exerted on said second member as said handle pivots further acting on said release member to separate said anchor from said second member after said anchor has deformed to engage the walls of the bore. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. Apparatus for inserting an anchor into a bore in a medium, the anchor being adapted to engage the walls of the bore for securing the anchor into the medium, the apparatus comprising:
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a first manually graspable member having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being adapted to releasably receive an anchor, said manually graspable member having a central opening therethrough, the proximal end of the manually graspable member having a pivotable handle extending therefrom; a second member movable longitudinally in the central opening attached to said pivotable handle and to said anchor; a release member releasably coupling said anchor to said second member; said pivotable handle being pivotable with respect to said first member and exerting a force longitudinally on said second member as said handle pivots to move said second member longitudinally in said first member and exert a force on said anchor connected thereto to deform said anchor to cause said anchor to engage the walls of the medium thereby to secure the anchor in the medium; said longitudinal force exerted on said second member as said handle pivots further acting on said release member to separate said anchor from said second member after said anchor has deformed to engage the walls of the bore; and wherein the release member coupling the anchor to the second member comprises a frangible connection which breaks upon the exertion of said force on said second member beyond a preset amount. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of securing an anchor into a bore in a medium, the anchor being adapted to engage the walls of the bore for securing the anchor into the medium, the method comprising:
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inserting an anchor held to a distal end of an insertion tool into the bore, the insertion tool having a longitudinal axis; applying a force to a lever extending from the insertion tool to pivot the lever about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to cause a force to be exerted on the anchor by a coupling member to deform the anchor into engagement with the walls of the bore in the medium and separating the anchor from the coupling member; and pulling the insertion tool away from the anchor leaving the anchor secured in the bore in the medium. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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25. A method of securing an anchor into a bore in a medium, the anchor being adapted to engage the walls of the bore for securing the anchor into the medium, the method comprising:
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inserting an anchor held to a distal end of an insertion tool into the bore; applying a force to a lever extending from the insertion tool to cause a force to be exerted on the anchor by a coupling member to deform the anchor into engagement with the walls of the bore in the medium and separating the anchor from the coupling member; and pulling the insertion tool away from the anchor leaving the anchor secured in the bore in the medium; wherein the step of separating the anchor from the coupling member comprises breaking a frangible connection between the anchor and the coupling member by the application of said force after said anchor has deformed into engagement with the walls of said bore. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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29. A method of securing an anchor into a bore in a medium, the anchor being adapted to engage the walls of the bore for securing the anchor into the medium, the method comprising:
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inserting an anchor, connected to a coupling member held to a distal end of an insertion tool, into the bore; applying a force to a lever extending from the insertion tool to cause a force to be exerted on the anchor by a coupling member to deform the anchor into engagement with the walls of the bore in the medium and separating the anchor from the coupling member; and pulling the insertion tool away from the anchor leaving the anchor secured in the bore in the medium; wherein said anchor comprises a biocompatible anchor adapted to be implanted in organic tissue and further comprising the step of coupling a suture to said anchor prior to said step of inserting.
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30. A method of securing an anchor into a bore in a medium, the anchor being adapted to engage the walls of the bore for securing the anchor into the medium, the method comprising:
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inserting an anchor held to a distal end of an insertion tool into the bore; applying a force to a lever extending from the insertion tool to cause a force to be exerted on the anchor by a coupling member to deform the anchor into engagement with the walls of the bore in the medium and separating the anchor from the coupling member; and pulling the insertion tool away from the anchor leaving the anchor secured in the bore in the medium; wherein the step of applying a force to the lever comprises applying a transverse force to the lever to cause the lever to pivot and cam against a surface of the insertion tool thereby to apply a tensile force to the coupling member.
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31. Apparatus for inserting an anchor into a bore in a medium, the anchor being adapted to engage the walls of the bore for securing the anchor into the medium, the apparatus comprising:
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an anchor comprising at least one hollow cylindrical section having longitudinally extending fingers adapted to be deformed radially outwardly to engage the walls of the bore to secure the anchor in the medium; a first manually graspable member having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis, the distal end releasably receiving the anchor, said manually graspable member having a central opening therethrough, the proximal end of the manually graspable member having a pivotable handle extending therefrom; a second member movable longitudinally in the central opening attached to said pivotable handle and to said anchor; a release member releasably coupling said anchor to said second member; said pivotable handle being pivotable with respect to said first handle about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first member and exerting a force longitudinally on said second member as said handle pivots to move said second member longitudinally in said first member and exert a force on said anchor connected thereto to deform said anchor to cause said anchor to engage the walls of the medium thereby to secure the anchor in the medium; and said longitudinal force exerted on said second member as said member pivots further acting on said release member to separate said anchor from said second member after said anchor has deformed to engage the walls of the bore. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. Apparatus for inserting an anchor into a bore in a medium, the anchor being adapted to engage the walls of the bore for securing the anchor into the medium, the apparatus comprising:
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an anchor comprising at least one hollow cylindrical section having longitudinally extending fingers adapted to be deformed radially outwardly to engage the walls of the bore to secure the anchor in the medium; a first manually graspable member having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end releasably receiving the anchor, said manually graspable member having a central opening therethrough, the proximal end of the manually graspable member having a pivotable handle extending therefrom; a second member movable longitudinally in the central opening attached to said pivotable handle and to said anchor; a release member releasably coupling said anchor to said second member; said pivotable handle being pivotable with respect to said first member and exerting a force longitudinally on said second member as said handle pivots to move said second member longitudinally in said first member and exert a force on said anchor connected thereto to deform said anchor to cause said anchor to engage the walls of the medium thereby to secure the anchor in the medium; and said longitudinal force exerted on said second member as said pivots further acting on said release member to separate said anchor from said second member after said anchor has deformed to engage the walls of the bore; wherein the release member coupling the anchor to the second member comprises a frangible connection which breaks upon the exertion of said force on said second member beyond a preset amount. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. An anchor for implantation in a bore in a medium, the anchor comprising:
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a cylindrical hollow section having a plurality of longitudinally extending fingers for outward radial movement for engaging the walls of the bore in response to a force applied to the anchor by an insertion tool causing the fingers to move against a cam surface; and a central longitudinally extending member extending through the hollow section and having a shoulder at a distal end preventing movement proximally past the section, the central member having a shaft for engagement by an insertion tool, said central member including a releasable connection for separating a distal portion of the central member from a proximal portion of the central member coupled to the insertion tool; the releasable connection comprising a frangible connection which breaks upon the exertion of a force by the insertion tool on the central member beyond a preset amount. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 62)
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61. In combination with an insertion tool for installing an anchor in a bore in a medium, the anchor comprising:
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a cylindrical hollow section having a plurality of longitudinally extending fingers for outward radial movement for engaging the walls of the bore in response to a force applied to the anchor by an insertion tool causing the fingers to move against a cam surface; and a central longitudinally extending member extending through the hollow section and having a shoulder at a distal end preventing movement proximally past the section, the central member having a shaft for engagement by an insertion tool, said central member including a releasable connection for separating a distal portion of the central member from a proximal portion of the central member coupled to the insertion tool; and wherein the insertion tool at a distal end thereof includes a cam surface for engaging the fingers of said hollow section to deform said fingers outwardly for engagement with the walls of the bore in the medium upon application of a force by said insertion tool.
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63. In combination with an insertion tool for installing an anchor in a bore in a medium, the anchor comprising:
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a cylindrical hollow section having a plurality of longitudinally extending fingers for outward radial movement for engaging the walls of the bore in response to a force applied to the anchor by an insertion tool causing the fingers to move against a cam surface; and a central longitudinally extending member extending through the hollow section and having a shoulder at a distal end preventing movement proximally past the section, the central member having a shaft for engagement by an insertion tool, said central member including a releasable connection for separating a distal portion of the central member from a proximal portion of the central member coupled to the insertion tool; and wherein said anchor comprises a medical suture anchor for anchoring a suture in organic tissue, the insertion tool having at least one opening therein through which the suture fastened to the anchor is threaded. - View Dependent Claims (64)
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65. In combination with an insertion tool for installing an anchor in a bore in a medium, the anchor comprising:
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a cylindrical hollow section having a plurality of longitudinally extending fingers for outward radial movement for engaging the walls of the bore in response to a force applied to the anchor by an insertion tool causing the fingers to move against a cam surface; and a central longitudinally extending member extending through the hollow section and having a shoulder at a distal end preventing movement proximally past the section, the central member having a shaft for engagement by an insertion tool, said central member including a releasable connection for separating a distal portion of the central member from a proximal portion of the central member coupled to the insertion tool; and wherein said anchor comprises a medical suture anchor for anchoring a suture in organic tissue, the insertion tool having at least one opening therein through which the suture fastened to the anchor is threaded; and
furtherwherein said central member has a forked end extending distally, said suture being looped through a region between forks of said forked end, the insertion tool having two opposed openings therein through which respective free ends of the suture are threaded.
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Specification