Patent ID: 8623049

Claim:
Apparatus for anchoring in soft tissue, the apparatus comprising: an elongate tensile member adapted to extend within the interior of the soft tissue; a first helical anchor configured for insertion within the interior of the soft tissue, said first helical anchor extending along a lengthwise axis of rotation and including a proximal coil extending around said axis and a distal coil portion ending in a distal tip, said proximal coil positioned immediately adjacent to said distal tip and defining an outer diameter immediately adjacent to said distal coil portion and said distal tip, said proximal coil forming the next coil relative to the distal tip in a direction proximal to said distal tip, and said distal tip positioned radially outward of said outer diameter, wherein said proximal coil defines a first outer diameter having a first radius and said distal coil portion extends along a curvilinear path having a second radius greater than said first radius and wherein the curvilinear path extends less than one revolution; and a drive member coupled with said first helical anchor such that said drive member may be used to rotate said first helical anchor into the soft tissue.