Suture anchor

Claim 2

A post and post anchor assembly for attaching a post to bone, said post and post anchor assembly comprising: (a) a post having a first end and a second end; (b) a coupling member; and (c) at least one barb, said barb having a first end and a second end and being curved in its normal unstressed state and being capable of being elastically deformed to a substantially straight length when desired, said barb extending transversely from said coupling member so that said second end of said barb is substantially laterally spaced from said coupling member when said barb is in its normal unstressed state but is capable of being aligned with said coupling member when said barb is deformed to a substantially straight length, and said post being attached to said coupling member at said first end of said post so that said second end of said post is free for use in attaching objects to a bone when said post anchor is anchored in said bone.

Claim 3

A post and post anchor assembly according to claim 1 wherein said at least one barb is made out of a nickel titanium alloy.

Claim 4

A post and post anchor assembly according to claim 1 wherein there are at least three barbs.

Claim 5

A prosthesis and prosthesis anchor assembly for attaching a prosthesis to bone, said prosthesis and prosthesis anchor assembly comprising: (a) a prosthesis having a first end and a second end; (b) a coupling member; and (c) at least one barb, said barb having a first end and a second end and being curved in its normal unstressed state and being capable of being elastically deformed to a substantially straight length when desired, said barb extending transversely from said coupling member so that said second end of said barb is substantially laterally spaced from said coupling member when said barb is in its normal unstressed state but is capable of being aligned with said coupling member when said barb is deformed to a substantially straight length, and said prosthesis being attached to said coupling member at said first end of said prosthesis so that said second end of said prosthesis is free for use when said prosthesis anchor is anchored in said bone.

Claim 6

A prosthesis and prosthesis anchor assembly for attaching a prosthesis to bone, said prosthesis and prosthesis anchor assembly comprising: (a) a prosthesis having a first end and a second end; (b) a coupling member; and (c) at least one barb, said barb having a first end and a second end and being curved in its normal unstressed state and being capable of being elastically deformed to a substantially straight length when desired, said barb extending transversely from said coupling member so that said second end of said barb is substantially laterally spaced from said coupling member when said barb is in its normal unstressed state but is capable of being aligned with said coupling member when said barb is deformed to a substantially straight length, and said prosthesis being attached to said coupling member at said first end of said prosthesis so that said second end of said prosthesis is free for use when said prosthesis anchor is anchored in said bone.

Claim 7

A prosthesis and prosthesis anchor assembly according to claim 4 wherein said at least one barb is made out of a nickel titanium alloy.

Claim 8

A prosthesis and prosthesis anchor assembly according to claim 4 wherein there are three barbs.

Claim 9

Apparatus for anchoring a post in a hole formed in a bone, said apparatus comprising: (a) a post having a first end and a second end; (b) a fastening assembly comprising a rigid coupling member and at least one barb; said coupling member having first and second opposite ends and a longitudinal axis, and being so dimensioned that the diameter of a first minimum cylinder enclosing said coupling member is smaller than the diameter of said hole, each said barb being curved in its unrestrained state and extending from said coupling member both longitudinally and radially outwardly relative to said longitudinal axis such that said barb projects radially outwards from said coupling member beyond said first minimum cylinder by a distance such that a second minimum cylinder enclosing said coupling member and said at least one barb has a diameter at least equal to the diameter of said hole, said barb also being capable of being elastically deformed to a substantially straight configuration generally within said first minimum cylinder; and (c) attachment means for attaching said first end of said post to said coupling member such that said second end of said post is free for use in attaching objects to said bone when said fastening assembly is anchored in said hole in said bone.

Claim 10

Apparatus for anchoring a post in a hole formed in a bone, said apparatus comprising: (a) a post having a first end and a second end; (b) a fastening assembly comprising a rigid coupling member and at least one barb; said coupling member having first and second opposite ends and a longitudinal axis, and being so dimensioned that the diameter of a first minimum cylinder enclosing said coupling member is smaller than the diameter of said hole, each said barb being curved in its unrestrained state and extending from said coupling member both longitudinally and radially outwardly relative to said longitudinal axis such that said barb projects radially outwards from said coupling member beyond said first minimum cylinder by a distance such that a second minimum cylinder enclosing said coupling member and said at least one barb has a diameter at least equal to the diameter of said hole, said barb also being capable of being elastically deformed to a substantially straight configuration generally within said first minimum cylinder; and (c) attachment means for attaching said first end of said post to said coupling member such that said second end of said post is free for use in attaching objects to said bone when said fastening assembly is anchored in said hole in said bone.

Claim 11

The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said at least one barb is made out of nickel titanium alloy.

Claim 12

The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein there are at least three barbs.

Claim 13

Apparatus for anchoring a prosthesis to a bone having a hole formed therein, said apparatus comprising: (a) a prosthesis having a first end and a second end; (b) a fastening assembly comprising a rigid coupling member and at least one barb; said coupling member having first and second opposite ends and a longitudinal axis, and being so dimensioned that the diameter of a first minimum cylinder enclosing said coupling member is smaller than the diameter of said hole, each said barb being curved in its unrestrained state and extending from said coupling member both longitudinally and radially outwardly relative to said longitudinal axis such that said barb projects radially outwards from said coupling member beyond said first minimum cylinder by a distance such that a second minimum cylinder enclosing said coupling member and said at least one barb has a diameter at least equal to the diameter of said hole, said barb also being capable of being elastically deformed to a substantially straight configuration generally within said first minimum cylinder; and (c) attachment means for attaching said first end of said prosthesis to said coupling member so that said second end of said prosthesis is free for use when said fastening assembly is anchored in said hole in said bone.

Claim 14

Apparatus for anchoring a prosthesis to a bone having a hole formed therein, said apparatus comprising: (a) a prosthesis having a first end and a second end; (b) a fastening assembly comprising a rigid coupling member and at least one barb; said coupling member having first and second opposite ends and a longitudinal axis, and being so dimensioned that the diameter of a first minimum cylinder enclosing said coupling member is smaller than the diameter of said hole, each said barb being curved in its unrestrained state and extending from said coupling member both longitudinally and radially outwardly relative to said longitudinal axis such that said barb projects radially outwards from said coupling member beyond said first minimum cylinder by a distance such that a second minimum cylinder enclosing said coupling member and said at least one barb has a diameter at least equal to the diameter of said hole, said barb also being capable of being elastically deformed to a substantially straight configuration generally within said first minimum cylinder; and (c) attachment means for attaching said first end of said prosthesis to said coupling member so that said second end of said prosthesis is free for use when said fastening assembly is anchored in said hole in said bone.

Claim 15

The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said at least one barb is made out of nickel titanium alloy.

Claim 16

The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein there are at least three barbs.

Claim 17

Apparatus for attaching a first object to a second object having a hole therein, said apparatus comprising: (a) a coupling member adapted for location in said hole; (b) at least one barb, said barb having a first end and a second end and being curved in its normal unstressed state and being capable of being elastically deformed to a substantially straight length when desired, said barb extending transversely from said coupling member so that said second end of said barb is substantially laterally spaced from said coupling member when said barb is in its normal unstressed state but is capable of being aligned with said coupling member when said barb is deformed to a substantially straight length; and (c) attachment means associated with said coupling member for attaching said first object to said apparatus.

Claim 18

Apparatus for attaching a first object to a second object having a hole therein, said apparatus comprising: (a) a coupling member adapted for location in said hole; (b) at least one barb, said barb having a first end and a second end and being curved in its normal unstressed state and being capable of being elastically deformed to a substantially straight length when desired, said barb extending transversely from said coupling member so that said second end of said barb is substantially laterally spaced from said coupling member when said barb is in its normal unstressed state but is capable of being aligned with said coupling member when said barb is deformed to a substantially straight length; and (c) attachment means associated with said coupling member for attaching said first object to said apparatus.

Claim 19

Apparatus for anchoring a first object to a second object having a hole formed therein, said apparatus comprising: (a) a fastening assembly comprising a rigid coupling member and at least one barb; said coupling member having first and second opposite ends and a longitudinal axis, and being so dimensioned that the diameter of a first minimum cylinder enclosing said coupling member is smaller than the diameter of said hole, each said barb being curved in its unrestrained state and extending from said coupling member both longitudinally and radially outwardly relative to said longitudinal axis such that said barb projects radially outwards from said coupling member beyond said first minimum cylinder by a distance such that a second minimum cylinder enclosing said coupling member and said at least one barb has a diameter at least equal to the diameter of said hole, said barb also being capable of being elastically deformed to a substantially straight configuration generally within said first minimum cylinder; and (b) attachment means for attaching said first object to said fastening assembly.

Claim 20

Apparatus for anchoring a first object to a second object having a hole formed therein, said apparatus comprising: (a) a fastening assembly comprising a rigid coupling member and at least one barb; said coupling member having first and second opposite ends and a longitudinal axis, and being so dimensioned that the diameter of a first minimum cylinder enclosing said coupling member is smaller than the diameter of said hole, each said barb being curved in its unrestrained state and extending from said coupling member both longitudinally and radially outwardly relative to said longitudinal axis such that said barb projects radially outwards from said coupling member beyond said first minimum cylinder by a distance such that a second minimum cylinder enclosing said coupling member and said at least one barb has a diameter at least equal to the diameter of said hole, said barb also being capable of being elastically deformed to a substantially straight configuration generally within said first minimum cylinder; and (b) attachment means for attaching said first object to said fastening assembly.

Claim 21

Apparatus for attaching a first object to a surface of a second object, said second object including walls defining a hole extending along a first longitudinal axis inwardly from said surface of said second object, said apparatus comprising: an anchor including a rigid coupling member, at least one barb and attachment means; said coupling member having first and second opposite ends and a second longitudinal axis extending between said first and second opposite ends, said coupling member being so dimensioned as to fit within said hole when said first and said second longitudinal axes are aligned; each said barb being curved in its normal, unstressed state but being capable of being elastically deformed to a substantially straight configuration, and extending longitudinally and radially relative to said second longitudinal axis from said coupling member to an outer end transversely spaced from said coupling member such that said outer end of each said barb will engage said walls defining said hole in said second object when said coupling member is disposed therein; and said attachment means being associated with said coupling member for connecting said first object to said anchor.

Claim 22

Apparatus for attaching a first object to a surface of a second object, said second object including walls defining a hole extending along a first longitudinal axis inwardly from said surface of said second object, said apparatus comprising: an anchor including a rigid coupling member, at least one barb and attachment means; said coupling member having first and second opposite ends and a second longitudinal axis extending between said first and second opposite ends, said coupling member being so dimensioned as to fit within said hole when said first and said second longitudinal axes are aligned; each said barb being curved in its normal, unstressed state but being capable of being elastically deformed to a substantially straight configuration, and extending longitudinally and radially relative to said second longitudinal axis from said coupling member to an outer end transversely spaced from said coupling member such that said outer end of each said barb will engage said walls defining said hole in said second object when said coupling member is disposed therein; and said attachment means being associated with said coupling member for connecting said first object to said anchor.