Surgical replacement of ligaments

• US 4,775,380 A
• Filed: 10/16/1986
• Issued: 10/04/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bahaa B. Seedhom, Kyosuke Fujikawa
• Original Assignee: Bahaa B. Seedhom, Kyosuke Fujikawa
• Inventors: Fujikawa, Kyosuke, Seedhom, Bahaa B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/919,669
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 623/12, 623/13, 623/16, 623/18, 623/20, 128/334 R, 128/335.5
• US Class Current: 623/13.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/88 Osteosynthesis instruments; Methods or means for implanting or extracting internal or external fixation devices A61B17/7074 takes precedence
• 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 2/4601 for introducing bone substitute, for implanting bone graft implants or for compacting them in the bone cavity
• 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: A61F 2002/2839 Bone plugs or bone graft dowels

Abstract

A prosthetic ligament for implantation between at least two bones and which takes the form of a tubular body made of woven flexible material through which tissue ingrowth can take place after implantation. A cord is attached to one end of the ligament to thread and to pull the ligament through channels formed in the bones, and a protective detachable sheath is attached to the ligament in order to facilitate the implantation of the ligament as it is pulled through the channels, the sheath immediately thereafter being detached. A bone plug introducer is used to insert a bone plug into one end of the ligament within the bone tunnel, which thereby secures the ligament end in position.

Claims

1. A prosthetic ligament which comprises a flexible elongate body adapted for implantation between at least two bones, a cord attached to one end of the body for threading through channels formed in the bones, and a detachable sheath of flexible material extending substantially along the whole of the length of the body of the ligament, said sheath extending beyond the attachment of the cord to the ligament body and being attached initially to the ligament for joint movement through the channels in the bones and thereafter being detachable from the ligament to allow the sheath to be removed immediately after implantation of the ligament, and the cord being knotted in a first knot within the sheath.

2. A prosthetic ligament according to claim 1, in which the cord is connected to the sheath by means of a second knot, said second knot being located further away from the point of attachment of the cord to the ligament body than the first knot.

3. A prosthetic ligament according to claim 1, in which the sheath is in the form of a tube.

4. A prosthetic ligament according to claim 1, in which the sheath is made from polyethylene.

5. A prosthetic ligament which comprises a flexible elongate body adapted for implantation between at least two bones, elongate pulling means attached to one end of the body for threading through channels formed in the bones, and a detachable sheath of flexible material extending substantially along the whole of the length of the body of the ligament, said sheath extending in one direction beyond the attachment of the elongate pulling means to the ligament body and in an opposite direction beyond the opposite end of the ligament body to provide a gripping portion, and said sheath being attached initially to the ligament for joint movement through the channels in the bones and thereafter being detachable from the ligament by pulling said gripping portion to allow the sheath to be removed immediately after implantation of the ligament.

6. A prosthetic ligament according to claim 5, in which the elongate pulling means comprises a cord.

7. A method of implanting a prosthetic ligament between at least two bones wherein the ligament comprises a flexible elongated body, elongate pulling means attached to one end of the body for threading through channels formed in the bones, and a detachable sheath of flexible material extending substantially along the whole of the length of the body of the ligament and in one direction beyond the attachment of the elongate pulling means to the body and in an opposite direction beyond the opposite end of the body to provide a gripping portion, said method comprising the steps of surrounding the ligament with said sheath prior to implantation, securing the sheath to the ligament at one end thereof to prevent relative movement between the sheath and the ligament, extracting plugs of bone and forming channels in each of the bones, threading and subsequently pulling the sheathed ligament through the channels in the bones by means of said elongate pulling means, cutting the sheath at a position adjacent to the point of attachment of the elongate pulling means to the ligament body so that the sheath is free to slide relative to the ligament, withdrawing the sheath from the ligament by pulling said gripping portion and then introducing the bone plugs into the bone channels.

8. A method according to claim 7, in which one of the bone plugs is inserted into a pouch formed in the ligament, and is introduced into the mouth of a respective bone channel as the ligament is pulled through the channels.

9. A method according to claim 8, in which the other bone plug is introduced into the mouth of the other bone channel by means of a bone plug introducer.