# US 11,304,690 B2 · Suture anchor implantation instrumentation system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,304,690 B2 - Document ID: US11304690B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/215,147 - Filed: 2018-12-10 - Published: 2019-04-11 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2009-07-16 - Assignees: Howmedica Osteonics Corp. - Applicants: Howmedica Osteonics Corp. - Inventors: Bryan Patrick Howard; Chad Lewis; M. Mary Sinnott - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304690B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/0401: {Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors (A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811)} - A61B 17/0469: {Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery} - A61B 17/1684: {for the shoulder} - A61B 17/17: Guides {or aligning means} for drills {, mills, pins or wires} - A61B 2017/0409: {Instruments for applying suture anchors} - A61B 2017/0441: {the shaft being a rigid coil or spiral} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A system for implanting an anchor into bone, the system comprising a curved cannulated guide for percutaneous insertion, having a proximal end and a distal end; a flexible drill insertable through the curved guide from the proximal end to the distal end, the flexible drill having a shaft having a flexible portion; and a flexible inserter for inserting a suture anchor into a bore at the anatomical site formed by the flexible drill, the flexible inserter having a shaft having a flexible portion, wherein the flexible portions of both the flexible drill and flexible inserter include a series of discrete, interlocking segments. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A guide for accessing an internal anatomical site comprising: a hollow shaft having a longitudinal axis, an inner wall, an outer wall, a proximal end, and a distal end, the distal end having a first edge and a second edge each extending between the inner and outer walls, the first edge positioned opposite the second edge, the first edge having a first shape and the second edge having a second shape, the first shape being different from the second shape, the first shape including a first sharpened point, a second sharpened point, and a single cut-out positioned between the first and second sharpened points, and the second shape including a rounded distal tip, wherein the shaft includes a curvature, along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis, the first edge circumferentially aligning with an inner curve of the curvature. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The guide of claim 1, wherein the first shape of the first edge includes a distally facing cut-out that defines a parabolic aperture. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The guide of claim 1, wherein the distal end terminates in the first and second edges. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The guide of claim 1, wherein the distal end further includes a window extending through the inner and outer walls of the shaft. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The guide of claim 4, wherein a perimeter of the window is fully enclosed within the shaft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The guide of claim 1, wherein the first shape of the first edge includes a cut-out that defines a parabolic aperture, wherein the cut-out aligns with one of an outer curve or an inner curve of the curvature. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The guide of claim 1, wherein the first shape of the first edge includes a cut-out that defines a parabolic aperture, wherein the cut-out is offset from an outer curve and an inner curve of the curvature. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The guide of claim 1, wherein the shaft has a curved angle of about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The guide of claim 1, wherein the shaft has a curved angle of about 0 degrees to about 25 degrees. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The guide of claim 1, wherein the parabolic aperture is positioned along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The guide of claim 1, further comprising a flattened portion extending along at least a portion of the outer wall to the first edge, wherein the cut-out is along at least part of the flattened portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The guide of claim 1, wherein the parabolic aperture is configured to mate with anatomical features of a glenoid. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A system comprising: the guide of claim 1; and a flexible drill capable of passing through the guide. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The guide of claim 1, wherein the second shape includes a convex portion covering a greater circumferential distance of the distal end than a combination of the first and second sharpened points. ### Claim 15 A guide for accessing an internal anatomical site comprising: a hollow shaft having a longitudinal axis, an inner wall, an outer wall, a proximal end, and a distal end, the distal end including a first edge and a second edge defining a distal opening, the first edge including and extending between a first sharpened point and a second sharpened point, and the first edge including a single cut-out positioned between the first and second sharpened points, the first and second edges separated by first and second concave portions along a circumference of the distal end, wherein the second edge includes a rounded distal tip between the inner and outer walls. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The guide of claim 15, wherein the cut-out has a parabolic shape. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The guide of claim 15, further comprising a flattened portion extending, along at least a portion of the outer wall to the first edge, wherein the cut-out is along at least part of the flattened portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The guide of claim 15, wherein the shaft includes a curvature along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis and the cut-out of the first edge aligns with one of an outer curve or an inner curve of the curvature. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The guide of claim 15, further comprising a viewing window disposed near the distal end of the shaft.