Graft fixation device and method

• US 20040092936A1
• Filed: 10/29/2002
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Endoscopy (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Paulos, Lonnie E., Miller, M. Todd, Yearsley, Ryan E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,588,595 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/916
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1714 for applying tendons or ligaments implements for applying tendons or ligaments A61F2/0805
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1764 for the knee
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/062 penetration depth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0805 Implements for inserting tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0841 Longitudinal channel for insertion tool running through the whole tendon anchor, e.g. for accommodating bone drill, guidewire
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0852 Fixation of a loop or U-turn, e.g. eyelets, anchor having multiple holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0882 Anchor in or on top of a bone tunnel, i.e. a hole running through the entire bone
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/907 Composed of particular material or coated

Abstract

A system for securing a graft within a bone includes a tubular cross pin having an interior surface bounding a passageway extending between a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the distal end terminating at a distal end face. A guide pin has an exterior surface extending between a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the exterior surface including an outwardly projecting shoulder. The guide pin is removably received within the passageway of the cross pin such that the distal end face of the cross pin biases against the shoulder and a proximal portion of the guide pin freely projects beyond the proximal end of the cross pin.

Claims

1. A cross pin for securing a graft within a bone, the cross pin comprising:

an elongated cannulated body having an interior surface bounding a passageway extending between a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the cannulated body being comprised of a non-metalic material; and

at least one rib radially outwardly projecting from the body at the distal end thereof.

2. A cross pin as recited in claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the body is tapered.

3. A cross pin as recited in claim 1, wherein the body is free of annular threads outwardly projecting from the distal end of the body.

4. A cross pin as recited in claim 1, wherein the body has a substantially cylindrical exterior surface.

5. A cross pin as recited in claim 1, wherein the non-metalic material is comprised of polylactide acid, polyglycolic acid, polycaprolactone, boidegrabale ceramics, bone, collagen, acetal copolymer, acetal homopolymer, silicone, ABS, polyetherarylketone, or combinations thereof.

6. A system for securing a graft within a bone, the system comprising:

a cannulated cross pin having an interior surface bounding a passageway extending between a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the distal end terminating at a distal end face; and

a guide pin having an exterior surface extending between a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the exterior surface comprising an outwardly projecting shoulder, the guide pin being removably received within the passageway of the cross pin such that the distal end face of the cross pin biases against the shoulder and a proximal portion of the guide pin freely projects beyond the proximal end of the cross pin.

7. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the distal end face of the cross pin has a maximum outer diameter that is substantially equal to or smaller than a maximum outer diameter of the shoulder of the guide pin.

8. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the guide pin comprises:

a substantially cylindrical distal shaft having an exterior surface;

a substantially cylindrical proximal shaft having an exterior surface, the proximal shaft having a maximum outer diameter smaller than a maximum outer diameter of the distal shaft; and

the shoulder encircling and radially outwardly projecting from the exterior surface of the proximal shaft to the exterior surface of the distal shaft.

9. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the cross pin comprises:

an elongated cannulated body having the passageway extending between a proximal end and an opposing distal end thereof, the distal end of the body being frustoconically taped; and

a plurality of radially spaced apart ribs outwardly projecting from the proximal end of the body.

10. A system as recited in claim 6, further comprising a tamp removably mounted on the proximal portion of the guide pin so as to bias against the proximal end of the guide pin.

11. A system as recited in claim 6, further comprising a flexible guide wire mounted on the distal end of the guide pin.

12. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the cross pin is comprised of a non-metalic material and the guide pin is comprised of a metal.

13. A method for positioning a graft within a bone, the method comprising:

forming a first tunnel and a second tunnel through a bone, the second tunnel intersecting with the first tunnel at an angle;

feeding a flexible guide wire through the second tunnel;

moving a portion of the guide wire within the second tunnel out through one end of the first tunnel;

looping a graft over the portion of the guide wire projecting out of the first tunnel;

securing a line to the graft; and

manipulating the line so that at least a portion of the graft is moved into the first tunnel so as to be in intersecting alignment with the second tunnel.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the act of moving a portion of the first guide wire comprises pushing a end of a placement shaft through a first end of the second tunnel so that the end of the placement shaft pushes a portion of the guide wire out through the opposing second end of the second tunnel.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the acts of securing the suture to the graft and manipulating the suture comprise:

looping the graft over the line and connecting the line to the placement shaft; and

pulling the placement shaft back up through the second tunnel so that the graft is pulled up therewith.

16. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising advancing the guide wire through the second tunnel so that a guide pin attached at the end of the guide wire enters the second tunnel and the graft loops over the guide pin.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising

driving a cross pin slidably mounted on the guide pin into the second tunnel so that the graft loops over the cross pin;

and

removing the guide pin from the second tunnel.

18. A method for positioning a graft within a bone, the method comprising:

positioning a graft within a first tunnel extending through a bone so that the graft loops over a guide wire passing through a second tunnel that is also extending through the bone, the second tunnel intersecting with the first tunnel;

pulling the guide wire through a second end of the second tunnel so that a guide pin attached at an end of the guide wire enters the second tunnel at a first end thereof, the guide pin following the tract of the guide wire so that the graft loops over the guide pin;

driving a cannulated cross pin that is removably mounted on the guide pin into the first end of the second tunnel so that the graft loops over the cross pin; and

removing the guide pin from the cross pin and the second tunnel by pulling the cross pin out through the second end of the second tunnel.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the act of driving the cross pin comprising impacting a tamp that is removably mounted on the guide pin so as to bias the tamp against one end of the cross pin.

20. A method for removing an implant used for securing a graft, the method comprising:

positioning a graft within a first tunnel extending through a bone so that the graft loops over a guide pin passing through a second tunnel that is also extending through the bone, the second tunnel intersecting with the first tunnel;

driving a cannulated cross pin that is slidably received over the guide pin into a first end of the second tunnel so that the graft loops over the cross pin; and

pulling or pushing, either directly or indirectly, on a portion of the guide pin that outwardly projects from the first or second end of the second tunnel such that a shoulder outwardly projecting from the cross pin biases against that cross pin, thereby forcing the cross pin and at least a portion of the guide pin out of the second tunnel through the first end thereof.