Method and apparatus for repairing a tear in a knee meniscus
First Claim
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1. A method for repairing a tear in a knee meniscus of a patient, comprising the step of:
- providing a delivery device having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end dimensioned to extend into the interior of the patient'"'"'s knee;
inserting the device into the patient'"'"'s knee so that the distal end extends centrally into the knee;
fitting a fastener within the device;
manipulating the device through a curved radius so that the distal end is directed outwardly toward the tear in the meniscus; and
thereafterextending and releasing the fastener through the curved radius and out of the distal end of the device outwardly through the meniscus and across the tear to close and bind the tear without passing the fastener out of the meniscus.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for repairing a tear in a knee meniscus of a patient utilizes a delivery device having a distal end dimensioned to extend into the interior of the patient'"'"'s knee. A fastener is fitted within the distal end and is manipulated to extend toward the tear in the meniscus, and extended across the tear to close and bind the tear without passing out of the knee.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for repairing a tear in a knee meniscus of a patient, comprising the step of:
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providing a delivery device having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end dimensioned to extend into the interior of the patient'"'"'s knee; inserting the device into the patient'"'"'s knee so that the distal end extends centrally into the knee; fitting a fastener within the device; manipulating the device through a curved radius so that the distal end is directed outwardly toward the tear in the meniscus; and
thereafterextending and releasing the fastener through the curved radius and out of the distal end of the device outwardly through the meniscus and across the tear to close and bind the tear without passing the fastener out of the meniscus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for repairing a tear in a knee meniscus of a patient, comprising the steps of:
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providing a relatively rigid fastener of a nontoxic, bioabsorbable material, the fastener having locking means along its length; and inserting the fastener into the patient'"'"'s knee, manipulating the fastener through a curved radius and then outwardly across the meniscal tear, without extending the fastener through the outer perimeter of the knee. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method for repairing a tear in a knee meniscus of a patient without sutures, comprising the steps of:
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providing a delivery device having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end configured to extend first into the interior of a patient'"'"'s knee, through a curved radius and then outwardly toward the meniscus under repair; providing a non-toxic, bioabsorbable fastener having locking means; fitting the fastener within the device; inserting the distal end of the device through the curved radius and into the central portion of the patient'"'"'s knee; manipulating the device so as to direct the distal end toward the meniscal tear under treatment; and
thereafterdriving the fastener through the curved radius and out of the distal end of the device, through the meniscus and across the tear under treatment.
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Specification