Method and apparatus for reconstructing a ligament
First Claim
1. A system for reconstructing a ligament by fixing at least one graft ligament strand in a bone tunnel, comprising:
- a retainer for disposition in the bone tunnel, wherein the retainer comprises at least one longitudinally-extending groove formed in the outside surface of the retainer, wherein the groove is configured to seat a graft ligament strand therein, and further wherein the at least one longitudinally-extending groove has a floor which is ramped radially outwardly as the floor extends distally-to-proximally, such that non-rotational advancement of the retainer into the bone tunnel will apply a compressive force to hold the graft ligament strand against the sidewall of the bone tunnel, and wherein the retainer comprises a transverse bore extending therethrough; and
a locking pin sized to pass through the transverse bore and into the sidewall of the bone tunnel so as to fix the retainer in place within the bone tunnel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention comprises the provision and use of a novel retainer which is slidably advanced to a desired fixation position within a bone tunnel, fixed in position within the bone tunnel (preferably by wedging and/or pinning) while applying a lateral force against the graft ligament so as to compressively hold the graft ligament against the sidewall of the bone tunnel, and which then, optionally, has the graft ligament secured thereto with a cap, whereby to secure the graft ligament to the retainer and hence additionally to the host bone. The present invention also comprises the provision and use of a novel retainer which is slidably advanced to a desired fixation position within a bone tunnel so as to apply a lateral force against the graft ligament so as to compressively hold the graft ligament against the sidewall of the bone tunnel, and which is then locked to the host bone as the graft ligament is simultaneously secured to the retainer, whereby to secure the graft ligament to the retainer and hence additionally to the host bone.
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Citations
88 Claims
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1. A system for reconstructing a ligament by fixing at least one graft ligament strand in a bone tunnel, comprising:
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a retainer for disposition in the bone tunnel, wherein the retainer comprises at least one longitudinally-extending groove formed in the outside surface of the retainer, wherein the groove is configured to seat a graft ligament strand therein, and further wherein the at least one longitudinally-extending groove has a floor which is ramped radially outwardly as the floor extends distally-to-proximally, such that non-rotational advancement of the retainer into the bone tunnel will apply a compressive force to hold the graft ligament strand against the sidewall of the bone tunnel, and wherein the retainer comprises a transverse bore extending therethrough; and
a locking pin sized to pass through the transverse bore and into the sidewall of the bone tunnel so as to fix the retainer in place within the bone tunnel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 88)
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31. A method for reconstructing a ligament by fixing at least one graft ligament strand in a bone tunnel, comprising:
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positioning the at least one graft ligament strand in the bone tunnel;
providing a retainer in the bone tunnel, wherein the retainer comprises at least one longitudinally-extending groove formed in the outside surface of the retainer, wherein the groove is configured to seat a graft ligament strand therein, and further wherein the at least one longitudinally-extending groove has a floor which is ramped radially outwardly as the floor extends distally-to-proximally, such that non-rotational advancement of the retainer into the bone tunnel will apply a compressive force to hold the graft ligament strand against the sidewall of the bone tunnel, and wherein the retainer comprises a transverse bore extending therethrough;
positioning the retainer in the bone tunnel so that the at least one graft ligament strand resides in a longitudinally-extending groove so that the retainer is wedged into place; and
passing a locking pin through the transverse bore and into the sidewall of the bone tunnel so as to pin the retainer to the host bone. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. A system for reconstructing a ligament by fixing at least one graft ligament strand in a bone tunnel, comprising:
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a retainer for disposition in the bone tunnel; and
a cap removably attached to the retainer for capturing the at least one graft ligament strand to the retainer by compressing the at least one graft ligament strand between the cap and the retainer. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. An inserter for inserting a retainer into a bone tunnel, the inserter comprising:
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a shaft;
an element on the distal end of the shaft for engaging a counterpart element on the retainer, whereby to releasably hold the retainer to the shaft; and
an opening formed in the shaft, wherein the opening extends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, with the opening being aligned with a transverse opening formed in the retainer when the retainer is releasably held to the shaft.
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68. A dilator for simultaneously (i) dilating a graft ligament strand extending through a bone tunnel and (ii) dilating the sidewall of the bone tunnel, the dilator comprising:
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a shaft sized to dilate the sidewall of the bone tunnel when the dilator is inserted into the bone tunnel; and
at least one longitudinally-extending groove formed in the side wall of the dilator, wherein the at least one longitudinally-extending groove is configured to seat a graft ligament strand therein, and further wherein the at least one longitudinally-extending groove is sized to dilate the graft ligament strand when the graft ligament strand is seated in the at least one longitudinally-extending groove and the dilator is inserted into the bone tunnel.
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69. A method for reconstructing a ligament by fixing at least one graft ligament strand in a bone tunnel, comprising:
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positioning a retainer in the bone tunnel; and
attaching a cap to the retainer so as to capture the at least one graft ligament strand to the retainer by compressing the at least one graft ligament strand between the cap and the retainer. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87)
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Specification