Patent · US Expired

Bone anchor and method of anchoring a suture to a bone

US5224946A · kind A · utility

770Cited by
14References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 5, 1991
Grant dateJul 6, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 5, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61F2002/0888
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A bone anchor (10) for securing a suture to a bone (38). The bone anchor (10) has a tip (16) at its distal end (18) and at least one resilient wall (27) extending to a trailing end (20) of the body (12) of the anchor. The wall (27) has a ridge (14), or barb, formed on an outer surface. The ridge (14) defines an edge (34) that digs into a hole (36) in the bone (38) in which it is positioned. A strand of suturing thread (22) extends through a suture receiving opening (24) in the tip (16) of the anchor. The method of the present invention employs the suture anchor (10) and includes the steps of forming a hole (36) in a bone (38) and inserting the suture anchor (10) to a desired depth in the hole (36) in the bone (38) using an inserter device (100). Suturing thread ( 22) extends from the suture receiving opening (24) in the tip and along the length of the walls (27,28) out of the hole (36) in the bone (38). An anchor spreader (130) is used to firmly seat the anchor (10) in the hole (36). The suture (22) is pulled at the same time to help seat the barbs 14 on the anchor (10) into the bone (38).

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.