Patent ID: 7850712

Claim:
A self-shielding suture anchor comprising: a body having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end defining a single pointed tip; a shielding element connected to, and received at least partially within, the body, the shielding element being movable relative to the distal end between a shielding position, wherein the shielding element is distal to the pointed tip, and a retracted position, wherein the shielding element is proximal to the pointed tip; a spring element operatively associated with the shielding element to bias the shielding element to the shielding position; and a surgical suture attached to the body and extending from the body between the proximal and distal ends; wherein the shielding element and spring element are adapted for the suture to be threaded therethrough such that the suture holds the shielding element and the spring element in operative association inside of the body.