DEVICE FOR IMPLANTING A SYSTEM FOR LOADING A CRUCIATE LIGAMENT IN A KNEE JOINT

• US 20110046733A1
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mathys AG Bettlach (Enovis Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Mathys AG Bettlach (Enovis Corp.)
• Inventors: Eggli, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 8,808,374 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 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/68 Internal fixation devices , including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin bone staples A61B17/0642
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0448 Additional elements on or within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0858 Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor and bone, e.g. interference screws, wedges

Abstract

A device for implantation in a bone is disclosed, wherein this device is a component part of a system, for controlled loading of the reconstructure anterior crucual ligament (ACL) of a knee joint. The device may comprise an outer body, which is provided with a damping mechanism between a distal end and a proximal end. Arranged inside the damping mechanism there is at least one securing element for fixing at least one thread which, at the proximal end of the device, is guided out from the outer body through an aperture in the base.

Claims

1. A device for implantation into a bone, which comprises an outer body provided with an external screw-thread, with a front end and a base, wherein the outer body provides a damping device in its interior between a distal end and a proximal end, and wherein at least one fixing element is disposed within the damping device, which fixes at least one thread, which is guided out of the outer body at the proximal end of the device through a recess in the base, and wherein the thread is attached by clamping to the at least one fixing element.

2. The device according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the damping device is provided with a spiral spring, to which a variable pressure is applied and which is in contact with the base of the outer body at its proximal end.

3. The device according to claim 1,

characterized in that the damping device provides a clamping sleeve with a flange.

4. The device according to claim 3,

characterized in that the spiral spring encloses a proximal end of the clamping sleeve and is in contact with its flange.

5. The device according to claim 3,

characterized in that the flange is provided with an internal screw-thread.

6. The device according to claim 3,

characterized in that the clamping sleeve is arranged with its flange in the region of the distal half of the outer body.

7. The device according to claim 5,

characterized in that the fixing element is designed as a cone, the length of which corresponds approximately to the length of the internal screw-thread of the flange.

8. The device according to claim 7,

characterized in that the cone is attached with its distal end to a screw extension of a screw.

9. The device according to claim 8,

characterized in that the screw is to be screwed with its external screw-thread into the internal screw-thread of the flange of the clamping sleeve.

10. The device according to claim 9,

characterized in that a screw head of the screw provides a recess in the form of a polygon or hexagon.

11. The device according to claim 2

characterized in that the at least one thread extends largely within the spiral spring, parallel to its longitudinal axis.

12. The device according to claim 1,

characterized in the damping device provides a thread made of an elastic material.

13. The device according to claim 12,

characterized in that the damping device provides a thread made of an elastic material, wherein an elastic body, which encloses at least one thread or several threads, is provided on the elastic thread at its distal end.

14. The device according to claim 13,

characterized in that the elastic body is a polymer or an elastomer.

15. The device according to claim 1,

characterized in that the device can be screwed into a borehole in a bone at an acute angle within the range from 40°

to 50°

relative to a tangent to a bone surface.

16. The device according to claim 1,

characterized in that the outer body is cylindrical in shape.

17. A system for a controlled loading of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructed from the two fibre bundles during the healing phase, which provides a device for implantation into a bone according to claim 1, fixes at least one thread as a replacement for the reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and provides a holding element for the at least one thread.

18. The system according to claim 17,

characterized in that an implantation of the device into a bone at the distal side of a joint is provided.

19. The system according to claim 17,

characterized in that the device can be screwed into a borehole in a bone at an acute angle (α

) within the range from 40°

to 50°

relative to a tangent [[on]] to a bone surface.

20. The system according to claim 17,

characterized in that a variable tensile stress can be applied via the device to the at least one thread.

21. The system according to claim 17,

characterized in that the at least one thread extends at one end within a first bone tunnel, wherein the first bone tunnel adjoins the borehole in the distal bone, and also extends within a second bone tunnel in a proximal bone of a joint and bridges a joint gap.

22. The system according to claim 21,

characterized in that the at least one thread emerges from the second bone tunnel and is fixed by means of the holding element at a proximal end of the second bone tunnel.

23. The system according to claim 22,

characterized in that the holding element comprises a metal plate and a stopper, wherein the metal plate is in contact with the proximal end of the second bone tunnel, and the stopper fixes the at least one thread to the metal plate.

24. The system according to claim 23,

characterized in that the stopper is formed as a knot in the thread or as a common knot of all threads.

25. The system according to claim 24,

characterized in that the stopper is formed as a bead, wherein one end of the at least one thread is welded or knotted to the bead.