Drill pin for fixation of ligaments using button/loop construct

• US 20080188935A1
• Filed: 01/25/2008
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: James Saylor, Jonathan Decker
• Inventors: Decker, Jonathan, Saylor, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,882,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/13.14
• 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 17/1615 Drill bits, i.e. rotating tools extending from a handpiece to contact the worked material
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1675 for the knee
• 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 17/1796 for holes for sutures or flexible wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening
• 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 2002/0852 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

Abstract

A technique and reconstruction system for ligament employing a button/loop construct with a drill pin. The drill pin has a shaft with a proximal and a distal end. A pin tip provided at the distal end of the shaft has a width greater than the shaft diameter. The pin tip helps cut a wider tunnel for fixation of ligaments/grafts in reconstructive surgeries. The shaft of the drill pin is provided with a laser marks for measurement of intraosseous length.

Claims

1. A drill pin comprising:

a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end,

wherein the proximal end has an eyelet, and wherein the distal end has a tip portion with cutting edges, the tip portion with cutting edges having an increased diameter relative to the rest of the shaft.

2. The drill pin of claim 1, wherein the drill pin is made of a material comprising one of stainless steel and titanium alloy.

3. The drill pin of claim 1, wherein the shaft is provided with a plurality of laser markings along its length for measuring distances during a surgical procedure.

5. The drill pin of claim 1, wherein the cutting surfaces have a relief angle of 120°

for all cutting surfaces which are 180°

opposed.

6. The drill pin of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the shaft cross-section is about 2.4 mm and the diameter of cutting edges of the tip portion is about 3 mm.

4. The drill pin of claim 4, wherein the plurality of laser markings are spaced at a predetermined length from the distal end.

7. A method of graft fixation, comprising:

(i) drilling a tunnel through bone using a drill pin, the drill pin having a shaft provided with laser marks, a proximal end provided with an eyelet, and a distal end provided with cutting edges, the distal end having an increased diameter relative to the rest of the shaft;

(ii) securing a button/loop construct with an attached graft to the drill pin by passing strands from the button/loop construct through the eyelet in the drill pin;

(iii) passing the drill pin and the suture/button construct with the attached graft through the tunnel; and

(iv) securing the button to the cortex of the bone once the button exits the tunnel.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein laser marks on the drill pin are used to measure the intraosseous length of the tunnel.