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Abstract

A driving system and method for endoscopically inserting threaded suture anchors. The driving system incorporates a tubular guide adapted to receive a cylindrical drive shaft having a drive portion at its distal tip for engaging a threaded anchor and a stop member at its proximal end for enabling rotational motion of the drive system relative to the drill guide while limiting longitudinal motion beyond a predetermined point. The stop member is, in the preferred embodiment, an annular shoulder which prevents the drive shaft from advancing the anchor into the bone more than a desired amount sufficient to countersink the anchor below the bone surface. The invention facilitates use of a drive shaft having a minimized shaft diameter. The invention also comprises a method of using the driving system, the method comprising the steps of both turning and longitudinally limiting the motion of the driver from the proximal side of the driver. An additional invention disclosed comprises a method of threading a suture through an anchor after the anchor has been implanted by a drive shaft having a minimized shaft diameter.

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First Claim