US 12,256,918 B2
Inserter assembly with suture protector tubing and method of use
Paul C. Brady, Knoxville, TN (US)
Assigned to Arthrex, Inc., Naples, FL (US)
Filed by Arthrex, Inc., Naples, FL (US)
Filed on Jan. 8, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/737,066.
Prior Publication US 2021/0204931 A1, Jul. 8, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 17/04 (2006.01); A61F 2/08 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/0401 (2013.01) [A61B 2017/0409 (2013.01); A61B 2017/044 (2013.01); A61F 2002/0852 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of using a surgical inserter assembly, the method comprising:
positioning an outer protector tube over a cannulated shaft of an inserter;
engaging an end of the cannulated shaft of the inserter with a fixation device that is pre-loaded with at least one flexible strand;
rotating the inserter into a bone hole, tunnel, or other crevice while the outer protector tube rests above the bone hole, tunnel, or other crevice, to install the fixation device in the bone hole, tunnel, or other crevice;
after installing the fixation device in the bone hole, tunnel, or other crevice, disengaging the inserter from the fixation device and removing the inserter from the outer protector tube, while leaving the fixation device in the bone hole, tunnel, or other crevice, leaving the outer protector tube in place resting above the bone hole, tunnel, or other crevice, and leaving the at least one flexible strand inside of the outer protector tube; and
clearing tissue surrounding an outside of the outer protector tube while the outer protector tube remains in place and the at least one flexible strand remains protected inside of the outer protector tube.