Patent ID: 8109943

Claim:
A system for deploying a suture anchor, said system comprising: a cannula assembly comprising: a port element defining an open proximal port end, said port element having a distal portion opposite said proximal port end; a cannula shaft extending from said distal portion of said port element to an open distal cannula end; a first needle at least partially longitudinally movable with respect to, and disposed at least partially radially external to, said cannula shaft; and a first suture anchor removably coupled to said first needle; a needle actuation mechanism at least partially longitudinally movable with respect to said cannula shaft; and an obturator assembly comprising an obturator housing including an obturator shaft at least partially insertable into and completely removable from said open proximal port end, wherein a portion of said needle actuation mechanism extends into said obturator shaft, wherein a first longitudinal movement of said needle actuation mechanism results in a corresponding second longitudinal movement of at least a first portion of said first needle.