Patent ID: 7976565
Filing Date: 2011-07-12
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A suture anchor for attaching soft tissue to a pre-selected area of a boney structure, the suture anchor comprising: an insert including a suture receiving section having a proximal end, a distal end defining a distal tip of the insert and a suture attachment area at the distal end adjacent the distal tip, a frangible breakaway portion having one end to attached on a proximal end of the suture receiving section and an opposite end attached on a first end of a tapered section, and an annular body attached on the tapered section at a second end opposite the first end, the frangible breakaway portion having a diameter less than a diameter of the suture receiving section; a unitary sleeve disposed around at least a portion of the insert, the sleeve including at least one hinged expanding feature defined by at least one slot formed at a midsection of the sleeve and contained within the sleeve so as to be spaced apart from respective ends of the sleeve, wherein the at least one hinged expanding feature is operable to radially expand and engage the boney structure to retain the insert in the boney structure while a diameter of the sleeve between the at least one hinged expanding feature and each respective end of the sleeve remains substantially unchanged; and an actuator pin secured to the insert, wherein the actuator pin is operable to move the tapered section relative to the sleeve to engage the sleeve via the at least one hinged expanding feature with the boney structure.