US 2015/0088197 A1 · Bone Anchor Inserter

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for deploying a bone anchor into bone. An inserter for deploying a bone anchor into bone can have an elongate shape with a proximal portion configured to be grasped by user and a distal tip configured to releasably mate with a bone anchor. In certain aspects, a distal portion of the inserter can be more flexible than remaining portions of the inserter and this can facilitate deploying the anchor into a bone tunnel. For example, as the bone anchor is being inserted into the bone tunnel, the distal portion of the inserter can be configured to bend to align the anchor with the tunnel. In one embodiment, the distal portion of the inserter has a plurality of grooves spaced along the inserter that define a series of rings such that when the inserter bends, the adjacent rings contact one another to limit the applied strain.

Claims21

Dependent claims

An inserter for driving a suture anchor into bone, comprising:

an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, and having a flexible portion extending along a length thereof adjacent to the distal end, the flexible portion including a plurality of grooves extending at least partially circumferentially around the shaft and spaced at a distance apart from one another along a longitudinal axis of the shaft;
and
a distal tip extending distally from the distal end of the elongate shaft, the distal tip being configured to mate with a suture anchor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Bone Anchor Inserter

Life of this patent

Bone Anchor Inserter

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21