Importance

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Abstract

A bone fastener for fixing either a suture or a rivet within a predrilled bone hole includes an expandable sleeve having an axial bore and a pin forcibly insertible into the axial bore, the expandable sleeve being configured to be insertible into a bore drilled in bone, at least a portion of the pin having an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of at least a portion of the axial bore. The fastener is emplaced by inserting the sleeve into a predrilled hole in the bone, and then forcing the pin into the axial bore, so that the wider portion of the pin presses outward against and expands the narrower portion of the sleeve, causing the sleeve to forcibly contact the walls of the bone hole and fixing the pin and sleeve firmly in place within the hole. Also, apparatus for emplacement of such a fastener includes a holder for holding the expandable sleeve in position within the predrilled hole in the bone, and a plunger moveable in relation to the holder for forcing the pin into the bore, so that the pin can be forced into the axial bore without imposing substantial net forces toward or away from the bone.

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First Claim