Suture anchor and suture anchor installation tool

Patent 4946468 Issued on August 7, 1990. Estimated Expiration Date:

December 8, 2009. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

3699969

3716058

Blind-end connector for fastening sheet metal to fiber-board ducts
Patent #: 4245545
Issued on: 01/20/1981
Inventor: Freeman

Anchoring bolt device
Patent #: 4573844
Issued on: 03/04/1986
Inventor: Smith

Surgical fastener
Patent #: 4669473
Issued on: 06/02/1987
Inventor: Richards , et al.

Method and apparatus for anchoring and manipulating cartilage Patent #: 4741330
Issued on: 05/03/1988
Inventor: Hayhurst

Inventor

Li, Lehmann K.

Assignee

Mitek Surgical Products, Inc.

Application

No. 449118 filed on 12/08/1989

US Classes:

606/232, Suture retaining means (e.g., buttons)606/72, Orthopedic fastener606/75, Staple or similar driven fastener606/78Shape memory material

Examiners

Primary: Green, Randall L.
Assistant: Jackson, Gary

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Schiller, Pandiscio & Kusmer

International Class

A61B 017/00

Abstract

A new and improved suture anchor of the sort adapted to anchor an intermediate portion of a piece of conventional suture in bone, and a new and improved installation tool for deploying the same, said installation tool being adapted to releasably hold at least one curved needle which is attached to said piece of conventional suture.