Patent ID: 7232455
Filing Date: 2007-06-19
Classification: A61B,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for disposing a suture anchor in a bone, the method comprising the steps of: providing a suture anchor comprising a generally wedge-shaped configuration defined by a ledge surface at a first end thereof, a protuberance upstanding from the ledge surface, an abutment surface depending from the protuberance, a rounded cam surface defined by a juncture of the protuberance and the abutment surface, and a plow surface depending from the ledge surface and angled toward the abutment surface to form therewith a rounded distal end surface, the plow surface and the ledge surface defining a biting edge, the protuberance being provided with a recess off-set from a center of the anchor first end, the anchor further being provided with a through-hole extending therethrough from side to side; providing an inserter comprising a shaft having a tip portion, and a handle; releasably mounting the suture anchor on the inserter shaft tip portion by engaging the protuberance recess with the inserter shaft tip portion; extending a suture through the anchor through-hole; by manipulation of the inserter, inserting the anchor, distal end surface first, into a bore in the bone until the biting edge is adjacent a first wall portion of the bore, and the cam surface is adjacent an opposite second wall portion of the bore; pulling the inserter to cause the cam portion to move along said second wall portion and the anchor to rotate in the bore, and the biting edge to bite into said bore first wall portion, to bind the anchor in the bone bore with the suture extending from the bore; and releasing the anchor from the shaft tip.