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Method and system for repairing a tear in the meniscus

  • US 5,320,633 A
  • Filed: 12/10/1992
  • Issued: 06/14/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for repairing a tear in the meniscus at the knee joint, the method comprising the steps of:

  • making an incision generally at the knee for permitting access to the interior of the knee;

    inserting an instrument through the incision to the vicinity of the tear in the meniscus;

    entering the meniscus adjacent to a first side of the tear with an end of the instrument;

    passing the end of the instrument through the meniscus and exiting the meniscus on a second side of the tear in the meniscus generally opposite the first side of the tear such that the instrument extends through a passage in the meniscus having an entrance on the first side of the tear and an exit on the second side of the tear;

    delivering said suture means in the instrument to said passage, said suture means comprising a first leg, a second leg spaced from the first leg and a cross member extending generally transversely with respect to the lengthwise extension of the first and second legs and connecting the first and second legs;

    pushing the first leg and cross member generally lengthwise into said passage through the entrance thereof with the first leg and the cross member being resiliently deflected from;

    their relaxed positions relative to one another, the first leg moving back to its relaxed position relative to the cross member upon passing out of said passage through the exit thereof and leaving the instrument, the first leg thereafter extending transversely with respect to the lengthwise extension of said passage across the exit thereof and being adapted to engage the meniscus around the exit so that the first leg cannot move back into said passage through the exit, the second leg extending generally transversely with respect to the lengthwise extension of said passage across the entrance thereof and being adapted to engage the meniscus around the entrance of said passage so that the second leg cannot move into said passage through the entrance, and the cross member being disposed in said passage;

    the cross member having a length less than the length of said passage such that the first leg and second leg compress the meniscus on opposite sides of the tear to at least partially close the tear.

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