Suture anchor implantation instrumentation system

摘要

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.

主权项

1. An instrument for insertion of an implant comprising a shaft defining a longitudinal axis, the shaft having a distal tip and a flexible portion proximal to the distal tip, wherein the flexible portion includes a series of discrete, interlocking segments along the longitudinal axis, each of the discrete, interlocking segments having a base and a series of identically shaped protrusions extending therefrom around the longitudinal axis, a first portion of a first protrusion of the series of protrusions of each of at least three of the discrete, interlocking segments being at a first circumferential position about the longitudinal axis, each of the first portions extending a maximum distance in a first direction from the respective base of the discrete, interlocking segments that is different than a maximum distance the others of the first portions of the first protrusions of the at least three discrete, interlocking segments extend in the first direction from their respective bases.