System for suture anchor placement
First Claim
1. An apparatus for installing a suture anchor, which comprises:
- a) a handle portion; and
b) an elongated portion including a sheath tube having an axial bore and distal and proximal ends, and an inner rod slidably disposed within the bore of the sheath tube, the inner rod being fixedly mounted to the handle, and the sheath tube being mounted to the handle and movable with respect to the handle between a distal position and a proximal position, the sheath tube being resiliently biased to the distal position and movable to the proximal position in response to proximally directed force applied to the distal end of the sheath tube.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for suture anchor placement includes an apparatus having a handle portion and an operating portion. The handle portion includes a spring, a needle park, and a member for releasably holding a length of the suture. The operating portion includes a sheath tube and a plunger rod slidably disposed within the bore of the sheath tube. The plunger rod is fixedly mounted at its proximal end to the handle. The suture anchor is releasably engaged to the distal end portion of the plunger rod. The sheath tube is mounted to the handle and movable with respect to the handle between a distal position and a proximal position, the sheath tube being resiliently biased to the distal position by the spring and movable to the proximal position in response to proximally directed force of sufficient magnitude applied to the distal end of the sheath tube. The sheath tube has a portion with an outer diameter greater than the diameter of the hole in the bone such that when the installation tool is pressed toward the bone, the sheath tube retracts into the handle and the suture anchor is advanced into a hole previously made in the bone. The suture, initially held in a taut configuration, is released in response to movement of the sheath tube to its proximal position.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for installing a suture anchor, which comprises:
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a) a handle portion; and b) an elongated portion including a sheath tube having an axial bore and distal and proximal ends, and an inner rod slidably disposed within the bore of the sheath tube, the inner rod being fixedly mounted to the handle, and the sheath tube being mounted to the handle and movable with respect to the handle between a distal position and a proximal position, the sheath tube being resiliently biased to the distal position and movable to the proximal position in response to proximally directed force applied to the distal end of the sheath tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for installing a suture anchor, which comprises:
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a) means for drilling a hole of predetermined diameter into bone tissue; b) a suture anchor having a length of suture attached thereto; c) a suture anchor installation tool which includes i) a handle portion; and ii) an elongated portion including a sheath tube having an axial bore and distal and proximal ends, and an inner rod slidably disposed with the bore of the sheath tube, the inner rod being fixedly mounted to the handle, and the sheath tube being mounted to the handle and movable with respect to the handle between a distal position and a proximal position, the sheath tube being resiliently biased to the distal position and movable to the proximal position in response to proximally directed force of sufficient magnitude applied to the distal end of the sheath tube, the sheath tube having a portion with an outer diameter greater than the diameter of the hole in the bone. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for applying a suture anchor to bone, comprising:
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a) drilling a hole of predetermined size into a mass of bone tissue; b) providing a suture anchor having a length of suture connected thereto; c) providing a suture anchor installation tool which includes i) a handle portion; and ii) an elongated portion including an sheath tube having an axial bore, and distal and proximal ends, and an inner rod slidably disposed with the bore of the sheath tube, the inner rod being fixedly mounted to the handle and having a distal end portion to which the suture anchor is releasably engaged, and the sheath tube being mounted to the handle and movable with respect to the handle between a distal position and a proximal position, the sheath tube being resiliently biased to the distal position and movable to the proximal position in response to proximally directed force of sufficient magnitude applied to the distal end of the sheath tube, the sheath tube having a portion with an outer diameter greater than the diameter of the hole in the bone; d) positioning the distal end of the sheath tube in conjunction with the hole in the bone such that the suture anchor is aligned with the hole in the bone; e) applying distally directed force to the installation tool, thereby advancing the suture anchor into the hole in the bone while moving the sheath tube proximally with respect to the handle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification