Bone-tendon-bone implant

• US 20050159812A1
• Filed: 01/18/2005
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: OsteoBiologics Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: OsteoBiologics Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Lee, Daniel R., Dinger, Fred B. III, Niederauer, Gabriele G., Wrana, Jeffrey S.
• Application Number:
  US11/037,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20050159812A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/13.140
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0835 with deformation of anchor parts, e.g. expansion of dowel by set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0852 Fixation of a loop or U-turn, e.g. eyelets, anchor having multiple holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0864 Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor elements, e.g. by additional screws in the anchor, anchor crimped around tendon
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0888 Anchor in or on a blind hole or on the bone surface without formation of a tunnel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0023 differing in porosity

Abstract

An implant for repairing soft tissue injuries is provided comprising at least one channel for receiving a soft tissue graft such as a tendon, ligament, or other soft tissue, to be implanted in a patient. The implant assembled with the graft is designed to fit into a bony defect, such as a graft tunnel, formed in bone of a patient. The implant can be biodegradable, and the implant-graft assembly has a pull-out strength sufficient to withstand everyday use during patient recovery.

Claims

1. An implant comprising at least one channel for receiving a soft tissue graft to be implanted in a patient.

2. The implant of claim 1 also comprising means for securing said soft tissue graft to said device.

3. The implant of claim 2 wherein said means for securing said soft tissue graft to said device comprises a component selected from the group consisting of suture holes, sutures, screws, clips, rivets, pins, wires, spikes, and staples.

4. The implant of claim 1 wherein said soft tissue graft is selected from the group consisting of autogenic, allogenic, or xenogenic soft tissues.

5. The implant of claim 1 designed to be implanted into a bone defect.

6. The implant of claim 1 that is porous or partially porous.

7. The implant of claim 6 that has a porous outer portion and a less porous inner portion.

8. The implant of claim 1 that is fully dense.

9. The implant of claim 1 made of a biodegradable polymer.

10. The implant of claim 9 designed to fully degrade over the period required for healing of the defect into which it is placed.

11. The implant of claim 1 comprising at least one projection over which the soft tissue graft can be looped.

12. The implant of claim 1 also comprising means for affixing the implant to surrounding tissue.

13. A graft assembly comprising an implant of claim 1 and a soft tissue graft.

14. The graft assembly of claim 13 having a pull-out strength of at least about 400N.

15. A method for repairing an injury to a soft tissue selected from the group consisting of tendons and ligaments, said method comprising:

providing a soft tissue graft;

providing an implant of claim 1;

assembling said soft tissue graft and said implant to form a graft assembly; and

inserting said graft assembly into a defect in a bone.

16. The method of claim 15 also comprising affixing the graft assembly in the defect by means of an interference screw, rivet, wedge, wire, cross-pin, or suture, or surface features selected from the group consisting of ridges, threading, and barbs, or by pressfitting.

17. The method of claim 15 in which one end of said soft tissue graft is attached to said implant, said method also comprising:

providing a second implant of claim 1;

attaching the other end of said soft tissue graft to said second implant to form a second graft assembly; and

inserting said second graft assembly into a second defect in a bone.

18. The method of claim 17 also comprising affixing said first and second graft assemblies in said defects by means of an interference screw, rivet, wedge, wire, cross-pin, suture, surface features selected from the group consisting of ridges, threading, and barbs, or by pressfitting.

19. A method for replacing an anterior cruciate ligament with a soft tissue graft, said method comprising:

providing a soft tissue graft having two ends;

providing two implants of claim 1;

attaching one end of said ligament to one of said implants;

attaching the other end of said ligament to the other of said implants;

creating a defect in the femur to receive one of said implants;

creating another defect in the tibia to receive the other of said implants;

inserting one of said implants into the defect in the femur; and

inserting the other of said implants into the defect in the tibia.

20. The method of claim 19 also comprising affixing the implants in the defects by means of interference screws, rivets, wedges, wires, cross-pins, sutures, surface features selected from the group consisting of ridges, threading, and barbs, or by pressfitting.