Ligament attachment and repair device

• US 20070123984A1
• Filed: 10/26/2005
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zimmer Technology Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Zimmer Technology Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hodorek, Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/259,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20070123984A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/13.140
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1146 of tendons
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0829 without deformation of anchor parts, e.g. fixation screws on bone surface, extending barbs, cams, butterflies, spring-loaded pins
• 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

Abstract

An implantable attachment device for attaching an end of a ligament to a bone. The attachment device includes a patch formed of a woven material. The patch includes a bone engaging face and a ligament engaging face. The patch is positionable between the bone and the end of the ligament and is adapted to be fastened to a surface of the bone such that the bone engaging face bears against the surface of the bone. The ligament engaging face is adapted to receive a ligament fastener for attaching the end of the ligament to the patch. The device may also include a reinforcing patch positionable atop and attachable to the patch, such that the end of the ligament is positioned between the ligament engaging faces of the patch and the reinforcing patch.

Claims

1. A device for attaching an end of a ligament to a bone, the device comprising:

a patch having a bone engaging face and a ligament engaging face, said patch adapted to be fastened to a surface of the bone such that said bone engaging face bears against the surface of the bone; and

a ligament fastener, said ligament engaging face adapted to receive said ligament fastener to attach the end of the ligament to said patch.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said patch includes at least one opening, said at least one opening adapted to receive a bone fastener for fastening said patch to the bone.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said patch is reinforced about a perimeter of said at least one opening.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said bone engaging face comprises a bone engaging layer, said bone engaging layer including growth factors.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said bone engaging face comprises a bone engaging layer, said bone engaging layer including a bone ingrowth scaffolding.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said ligament fastener comprises a suture.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said patch is formed of a woven material.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said woven material comprises a metal.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein said woven material comprises synthetic fibers.

10. The device of claim 1 further including a reinforcing patch, said reinforcing patch positionable atop and attachable to said patch, such that the end of the ligament is positioned between said patch and said reinforcing patch.

11. A device for re-attaching two ends of a torn ligament to one another, the device comprising:

a patch having an exterior face and an interior face; and

at least one ligament fastener, said patch adapted to receive said least one ligament fastener to attach the two ends of the ligament to said interior face;

wherein said patch formable to wrap around the two ends of the ligament.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said interior face of said patch includes a ligament growth layer, said ligament growth layer comprising a scaffolding structure.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein said interior face of said patch includes a ligament growth layer, said ligament growth layer including growth factors.

14. The device of claim 11 wherein said patch is formed of a woven material.

15. The device of claim 12 wherein said scaffolding structure comprises a hydrogel.

16. The device of claim 11 wherein said patch is biodegradable.

17. The device of claim 11 wherein said at least one ligament fastener is a suture.

18. A device for re-uniting two ends of a torn ligament, said device comprising:

a first patch and a second patch, each of said first and second patches having an interior ligament face and an exterior face, said first patch positionable adjacent a first side of the ends of the ligament, said woven material adapted to receive a ligament fastener for attaching the ends of the ligament to said interior ligament face, said second patch positionable atop said first patch and adjacent an opposite second side of the ends of the ligament such that the ends of the ligament are positioned between said interior faces of said first and second patches, said second patch attachable to said first patch.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein each of said first and second patches comprises a woven material.

20. The device of claim 18 wherein said interior face of at least one of said first and second patches comprises a biologic material.

21. A ligament repair system for replacing a damaged ligament, said ligament replacement system comprising:

a replacement ligament having a first bone engaging end and a second bone engaging end; and

first and second patches respectively coupled to said first and second bone engaging ends, each of said first and second patches having a bone engaging face and a ligament engaging face, each of said first and second patches adapted to be fastened to a surface of a respective bone such that said bone engaging face bears against the surface of the respective bone; and

a ligament fastener, said ligament engaging face adapted to receive said ligament fastener to attach said first and second bone engaging ends of the ligament to said first and second patches respectively.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein each of said first and second patches is formed of a first woven material and said replacement ligament is formed of a second woven material.

23. The device of claim 21 wherein said first woven material is different from said second woven material.

24. The device of claim 22 wherein said first woven material is woven into said second woven material to thereby integrally couple said first and second patches to said first and second bone engaging ends, respectively.

25. The device of claim 22 wherein said replacement ligament includes a hydrogel coating woven into said second woven material.

26. The device of claim 21 wherein said bone engaging face comprises a bone engaging layer, said bone engaging layer including growth factors.

27. The device of claim 21 wherein said bone engaging face comprises a bone engaging layer, said bone engaging layer including a bone ingrowth scaffolding.