Graft fixation implant

• US 20070270857A1
• Filed: 05/17/2007
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Linvatec Corporation (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Linvatec Corporation (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lombardo, Giuseppe, Kam, Andrew, Brown, Jessica, Sherman, P. Ercell
• Granted Patent: US 8,852,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/232
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners

Abstract

The subject invention is a fixation device or anchor intended to secure a graft ligament or other soft tissue repair. The device is designed to be attached to a graft ligament and to secure the graft within a bone tunnel by extending transversely across the opening of the tunnel. In certain procedures the device is intended to pass through a bone tunnel in an orientation generally aligned with the tunnel and then turn transversely. The device has an inherent tendency to rotate upon exiting the tunnel to thereby become automatically transversely aligned with the tunnel and the graft ligament. The rotation is due to a moment automatically created as a resultant of forces applied to the anchor by a pulling-suture via a laterally offset aperture joining the pulling-suture to the anchor.

Claims

1. A graft fixation implant comprising:

an elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end, a central portion interposed between said proximal and distal ends, a longitudinal axis extending through said proximal and distal ends and a transverse axis extending through said central portion, said body comprising;

an axially aligned proximal aperture in said proximal end and an axially aligned distal aperture in said distal end, both apertures extending through the body and being within a common plane which includes said longitudinal axis;

a pulling-suture receiving aperture extending through said central portion, said pulling-suture receiving aperture aligned parallel to said common plane and spaced laterally from said longitudinal axis.

2. A graft fixation implant according to claim 1 further comprising:

a loop graft retaining member received in said proximal and distal apertures.

3. A graft fixation implant according to claim 1 wherein said pulling-suture receiving aperture is situated proximally of said transverse axis.

4. A graft fixation implant according to claim 1 further comprising:

an access opening in said body adjacent each of said proximal and distal apertures.

5. A graft fixation implant according to claim 2 further comprising:

a longitudinally aligned channel in said central portion, said channel joining said proximal and distal apertures and for receiving a portion of said graft retaining member.

6. A graft fixation implant according to claim 1 wherein said anchor is provided with two suture receiving apertures in said central portion, said apertures symmetrically laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the anchor.

7. A graft fixation implant according to claim 1 further comprising an aperture in said proximal end for receiving a guiding-suture which, in use, extends proximally from said proximal end portion.

8. A graft fixation implant according to claim 1 wherein an orienting mark is placed on said body to identify the proper orientation for said body during use.

9. A graft fixation implant according to claim 1 wherein said transverse axis intersects said longitudinal axis.

10. A graft fixation implant according to claim 1 further comprising:

a pulling-suture received in said pulling-suture receiving aperture.

11. A graft fixation implant according to claim 7 further comprising:

a guiding suture received in said guiding-suture receiving aperture.

12. A graft fixation implant comprising:

an elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis extending through said proximal and distal ends and a transverse axis, said body comprising;

an axially aligned proximal aperture in said proximal end and an axially aligned distal aperture in said distal end, both apertures extending through the body and being within a common plane which includes said longitudinal axis;

a pulling-suture receiving aperture situated between said proximal and distal ends and aligned parallel to said common plane and spaced laterally from said longitudinal axis.

13. A method of securing a graft within a bone tunnel by attaching the graft to a graft anchor intended to be ultimately situated transverse to an opening of said bone tunnel, said method comprising the steps of:

forming a bone tunnel;

providing an elongated anchor having a longitudinal axis, a length greater than the diameter of said bone tunnel, a central portion, a transverse axis and proximal and distal apertures;

providing a transverse pulling-suture receiving aperture situated in said central portion laterally of said longitudinal axis;

securing a graft to said proximal and distal apertures;

pulling said anchor distally through said tunnel in alignment with said tunnel;

pulling said anchor by a pulling-suture passing through said transverse pulling-suture receiving aperture to thereby create a moment about said transverse axis of the anchor sufficient to orient said anchor transversely to said tunnel.

14. A method according to claim 13 further comprising the step of:

providing a guiding-suture, securing said guiding-suture to a proximal end of said anchor and pulling said guiding-suture proximally in opposition to said pulling-suture, to maintain alignment of said anchor during passage through said tunnel.

15. A method according to claim 13 further comprising the step of:

providing a guiding-suture receiving aperture at a proximal end of said anchor for receiving said guiding-suture.

16. A method according to claim 13 further comprising the step of:

using said guiding-suture in opposition to said pulling suture to maintain said anchor in substantial alignment with said bone tunnel as said anchor is pulled through said tunnel.