Prosthetic ligament connection assembly

• US 4,744,793 A
• Filed: 09/06/1985
• Issued: 05/17/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zimmer Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Zimmer Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fuson, Robert L., Parr, Jack E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Isabella, David J.
• Application Number:
  US06/773,286
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 128/334 C, 128/334 R, 623/1, 623/13, 623/16-23, 623/1
• US Class Current: 623/13.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0835 with deformation of anchor parts, e.g. expansion of dowel by set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0858 Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor and bone, e.g. interference screws, wedges
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/087 Anchor integrated into tendons, e.g. bone blocks, integrated rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0882 Anchor in or on top of a bone tunnel, i.e. a hole running through the entire bone
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 11/05 by using conical plugs insertable between the strands

Abstract

A prosthetic ligament connection assembly includes a plug adapted to fit within an opening in a bone so that the prosthetic ligament in the opening will be secured to the bone via a uniform interface therebetween.

Claims

1. A prosthetic connection assembly for attachment of a prosthetic ligament to a bone, the bone defining an opening for receiving the prosthetic ligament wherein said opening defines a frusto conical wall;

and said connection assembling comprising a prosthetic ligament having a central portion and at least one substantially hollow tubular end portion;

first and second members, said first member defining a frusto conical outer surface engagable with said opening and a frusto conical inner surface forming an aperture to receive said second member such that the hollow tubular end portion of said prosthetic ligament is positioned between said first and second member establishing a uniform interface between said members and said ligament thereby interlocking and securing said ligament therebetween.

2. The prosthetic ligament connection assembly of claim 1 in which the first member is radially expandible for movement into tight engagement with the bone in response to movement of the second member.

3. The prosthetic ligament connection assembly of claim 1 in which the second member includes a roughened surface engageable with the prosthetic ligament to tightly grip the latter between the members.

4. The prosthetic ligament connection assembly of claim 1 in which the second member is compressed in the interlock position to generate a restoring force biasing the prosthetic ligament into engagement with the first member.

5. The prosthetic ligament connection assembly of claim 1 in which the prosthetic ligament generates a restoring force when attached to the bone and the restoring force is substantially imparted to the second member to further tighten the engagement of the prosthetic ligament between the members.