Method and system for repairing a tear in the meniscus
First Claim
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.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for repairing a tear in the meniscus in the knee joint including a suture having a first leg, a second leg spaced from the first leg and a cross member connecting the first and second legs. An instrument for delivering the suture to the meniscus can be inserted through an incision in the knee and into the vicinity of the meniscus. A first end of the instrument enters the meniscus adjacent to a first side of the tear, passes through the meniscus and exits the meniscus on a second side of the tear in the meniscus generally opposite the first side of the tear. The instrument has a channel extending longitudinally of the instrument in which the first leg of the suture can be inserted. A push rod pushes the first leg and cross member generally lengthwise in the channel and into the meniscus where the suture closes the tear.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for repairing a tear in the meniscus at the knee joint, the method comprising the steps of:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for repairing a tear in the meniscus in the knee joint, the system comprising:
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suture means having a first leg, a second leg spaced from the first leg and a cross member extending generally transversely with respect to the lengthwise extensions of the first and second legs and connecting the first and second legs; an instrument for delivering said suture means to the meniscus, the instrument being adapted for insertion through an incision in the knee and into the vicinity of the meniscus, a first end of the instrument being adapted to enter the meniscus adjacent to a first side of the tear, passing 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; the instrument having a channel therein extending longitudinally of the instrument and opening at the first end, the first leg of said suture means being adapted for insertion into the channel and for sliding movement generally longitudinally of the channel, the channel being dimensioned and shaped so that the first leg is held from substantial movement in the channel in directions transverse to the lengthwise extension of the channel; pusher means for pushing the first leg and cross member of said suture means generally lengthwise in the channel and 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 leaving said passage through the exit thereof, 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 being adapted to extend generally transversely with respect to the lengthwise extension of said passage across the entrance thereof and 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 predetermined length such that the first leg and second leg compress the meniscus on opposite sides of the tear to at least partially close the tear; elongated guide pin means having a plurality of longitudinally spaced graduations thereon and a sharpened end for penetrating the meniscus adjacent to the first side of the tear, the sharpened end being adapted to pass through the meniscus and exit the meniscus on the second side of the tear in the meniscus generally opposite the first side of the tear thereby to from said passage through the meniscus, said guide pin means being sized and shaped to be received in the channel of the instrument for guiding insertion of the instrument into and through said passage in the meniscus. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for repairing a tear in the meniscus in the knee joint, the system comprising:
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suture means having a first leg, a second leg spaced from the first leg and a cross member extending generally transversely with respect to the lengthwise extensions of the first and second legs and connecting the first and second legs; an instrument for delivering said suture means to the meniscus, the instrument being adapted for insertion through an incision in the knee and into the vicinity of the meniscus, a first end of the instrument being adapted to enter the meniscus adjacent to a first side of the tear, passing 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; the instrument having a channel therein extending longitudinally of the instrument and opening at the first end and at a second end of the instrument opposite the first end, the first leg of said suture means being adapted for insertion into the channel generally at the second end thereof and for sliding movement generally longitudinally of the channel, the channel being dimensioned and shaped so that the first leg is held from substantial movement in the channel in directions transverse to the lengthwise extension of the channel; said suture means being movable generally lengthwise in the channel and 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 of said suture means having a predetermined length such that the first leg and second leg compress the meniscus on opposite sides of the tear to at least partially close the tear; elongated guide pin means having a plurality of longitudinally spaced graduations thereon and a sharpened end for penetrating the meniscus adjacent to the first side of the tear, the sharpened end being adapted to pass through the meniscus and exit the meniscus on the second side of the tear in the meniscus generally opposite the first side of the tear thereby to form said passage through the meniscus, said guide pin means being sized and shaped to be received in the channel of the instrument for guiding insertion of the instrument into and through said passage in the meniscus. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification