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US 2006/0142799 A1Published application
Apparatus and method for use in positioning an anchor
OwnerPeter Bonuttiinventor
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OwnerPeter Bonuttiinventor
Estimating the term…
An apparatus for use in positioning an anchor includes a tubular outer member and an inner or pusher member. During use of the apparatus, a slot facilitates visualization of the position of the anchor relative to body tissue. An anchor retainer may be provided at one end of the tubular outer member to grip the anchor and hold the anchor in place during assembly. The anchor retainer also holds the anchor during movement of the apparatus from an assembly location to an operating room or other location where the apparatus is to be used. Indicia may be provided on the inner member to indicate the position of the anchor relative to body tissue. The tubular outer member may be utilized to guide a drill during formation of an opening in body tissue and may be subsequently utilized to guide movement of an anchor into the opening in the body tissue.
A method of positioning a suture anchor connected with a suture relative to body tissue with a suture anchor inserter assembly, said method comprising the steps of positioning a leading end portion of an inserter member forming part of the inserter assembly in an opening in the suture anchor, pushing the suture anchor into body tissue under the influence of force transmitted through the inserter assembly to the suture anchor, and sliding the leading end portion of the inserter member along an inner side surface of the opening in the suture anchor while the suture anchor is disposed in the body tissue to thereby change the orientation of at least a portion of the suture anchor relative to the leading end portion of the inserter member, the change in orientation inhibiting pull out of the anchor from the body tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.