Patent ID: 9498205
Filing Date: 2016-11-22
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. A method for anchoring a suture to a bone, comprising the steps of: inserting a suture through a transverse through hole of an elongated fixation element, the elongated fixation element extending along a central axis and including a proximal section and a distal section each of which includes a material substantially non-absorbent of electromagnetic radiation in a preselected wavelength range and a middle section arranged axially between the proximal and distal sections so as to space and separate the proximal section from the distal section along the central axis, thereby causing the proximal section, the distal section, and the middle section to be aligned with one another along the central axis, the entire middle section formed of a material that is substantially absorbent of electromagnetic radiation in the preselected wavelength range; inserting the elongated fixation element distally past a near cortex of the bone; applying electromagnetic radiation within the preselected wavelength range to the elongated fixation element to soften the middle section; moving the elongated fixation element proximally such that the softened middle section is compressed against an inner surface of the near cortex; and allowing the elongated fixation element to cool such that the elongated fixation element is fixed within the bone.