Abstract: An anchor for tensile member(s) includes: a housing having a hollow interior; a collet in the hollow interior of the housing, the collet having a peripheral wall defining a central bore and an exterior surface. The collet is configured to be swaged around the tensile member(s). The collet includes longitudinal grooves in an outer surface of the peripheral wall, each defining a web configured to collapse inward in response to external compressive force. A sleeve has a peripheral wall defining interior and exterior surfaces and is disposed in the housing axially adjacent to the collet. At least one of the collet and the sleeve is tapered and the sleeve and the collet are arranged such that sleeve movement from a first position to a second position will cause the sleeve to bear against the collet, swaging the collet radially inwards around and against the tensile member(s).

Abstract: An apparatus for anchoring one or more tensile members to bone includes: an anchor, including: a housing having a hollow interior, and including a body portion and an extension portion interconnected by a breakaway structure configured to retain structural integrity under a first predetermined tensile load and to separate under a second predetermined tensile load which is greater than the first predetermined tensile load; a collet disposed in the hollow interior, the collet having a peripheral wall defining a central bore for accepting one or more tensile members therethrough; a sleeve having a peripheral wall and being disposed in the hollow interior of the housing, so as to be movable parallel to the central axis; and wherein the sleeve and the collet are arranged such that axial movement of the sleeve will cause the collet to swage radially inwards around and against the one or more tensile members.

Abstract: A method for anchoring one or more tensile members to bone includes: providing an anchor, including: a housing including a body portion and an extension portion interconnected by a breakaway structure which is configured to retain structural integrity under a first predetermined tensile load and to separate under a second predetermined tensile load which is greater than the first predetermined tensile load; a collet disposed in the hollow interior; and a sleeve movable parallel to the central axis between first and second positions; passing one or more tensile members through a central bore of the collet; seating the housing into a bore formed in the bone; and driving the sleeve from the first position towards the second position under the first predetermined tensile load, so as to swage the collet around the one or more tensile members.

Abstract: An apparatus for anchoring a tensile member to bone includes a housing with first and second ends and a hollow interior space. A collet is disposed in the interior space, the collet defining a central bore for accepting a tensile member therethrough, and an exterior surface. A sleeve has opposed interior and exterior surfaces and is disposed in the interior space axially adjacent to the collet, and is movable axially between first and second positions. At least one of the exterior surface of the collet and the interior surface of the sleeve is tapered and the sleeve and the collet are arranged such that movement of the sleeve from the first position to the second position will cause the interior surface of the sleeve to bear against the exterior surface of the collet, causing the collet to swage radially inwards around and against the tensile member, without moving axially.

Abstract: A method for anchoring a tensile member to a bone includes: providing an anchor, including: a housing having first and second ends, and a hollow interior; a collet in the hollow interior, and having a central bore and an exterior surface; a sleeve having interior and exterior surfaces, the sleeve disposed in the hollow interior axially adjacent the collet, and axially movable between first and second positions. At least one of the collet exterior surface and the sleeve interior surface is tapered such that sleeve movement from the first position towards the second position causes the sleeve to bear against the collet exterior surface, causing the collet to swage inwards around and against the tensile member without moving axially; passing the tensile member through the central bore; seating the housing into a bore formed in the bone; and driving the sleeve from the first position towards the second position.

Abstract: An apparatus for extracting a medical implant from bone includes: a housing; a coupler carried by the housing and configured to be mechanically connected to a medical implant; and a forcing mechanism carried by the housing and operable to apply a cyclic excitation force with a specified amplitude, frequency, and vector to the coupler. Methods are described for using the apparatus to remove and/or implant medical implants.

Abstract: An apparatus for extracting a medical implant from bone includes: a housing; a coupler carried by the housing and configured to be mechanically connected to a medical implant; and a forcing mechanism carried by the housing and operable to apply a cyclic excitation force with a specified amplitude, frequency, and vector to the coupler. Methods are described for using the apparatus to remove and/or implant medical implants.

Abstract: A prosthetic knee joint includes: (a) a femoral member comprising rigid material with a convex, wear-resistant femoral contact surface including a convex ridge; (b) a tibial assembly including: (i) at least one cup comprising rigid material with a body and a rim substantially thicker than the body defining a wear-resistant cup contact surface; (ii) a rigid base; and (iii) a spring support interconnecting the cup and the base, the spring support elastically deflectable permitting controlled pivoting of the at least one cup; (c) wherein the cup contact surface bears against the femoral contact surface, transferring axial and lateral loads between the cup and femoral member, while allowing pivoting between the cup and femoral member; and (d) wherein the at least one cup allows the rim to deform elastically, permitting the cup contact surface to conform in an irregular shape to the femoral contact surface, when the knee joint is loaded.

Abstract: A prosthetic knee joint includes: (a) a femoral member comprising rigid material with a convex, wear-resistant femoral contact surface including a convex ridge; (b) a tibial assembly including: (i) at least one cup comprising rigid material with a body and a rim substantially thicker than the body defining a wear-resistant cup contact surface; (ii) a rigid base; and (iii) a spring support interconnecting the cup and the base, the spring support elastically deflectable permitting controlled pivoting of the at least one cup; (c) wherein the cup contact surface bears against the femoral contact surface, transferring axial and lateral loads between the cup and femoral member, while allowing pivoting between the cup and femoral member; and (d) wherein the at least one cup allows the rim to deform elastically, permitting the cup contact surface to conform in an irregular shape to the femoral contact surface, when the knee joint is loaded.