ACL graft fixation device and method

• US 6,099,568 A
• Filed: 03/03/1998
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Linvatec Corporation (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Linvatec Corporation (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Salazar, Bartolome J., Simonian, Peter T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEWART, ALVIN J
• Application Number:
  US09/033,245
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 623/13, 623/16
• US Class Current: 623/13.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0445 cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• 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

Abstract

An improved anchor for securing a graft ligament in place in a bone tunnel comprises a dome portion surrounded by a flange portion. The dome portion fits into a bone tunnel and includes first and second apertures for receiving sutures located on so that the anchor is positioned stably in use, while the flange portion abuts the outer surface of the bone and supports the anchor. The cross-sectional thickness of the anchor is increased in the area of the apertures to provide adequate pull-out strength. The flange may be elliptical in plan and the dome portion asymmetric, to allow the anchor to better withstand tension.

Claims

1. An improved anchor for securing a replacement ligament in a bone tunnel drilled in a patient'"'"'s bone, said anchor being a unitary member formed of a bioresorbable material, and comprising a first dome portion, adapted to fit into the bone tunnel, and a second flange portion surrounding said dome portion and adapted to rest on the surface of said bone surrounding said bone tunnel and prevent said anchor from being pulled into said bone tunnel, said dome portion having at least two apertures formed therein for passage of sutures therethrough, the cross-sectional thickness of the material of said dome portion of said anchor being greater in the vicinity of said apertures than elsewhere, and wherein said flange is elliptical in plan and said apertures are opposed to one another, on either side of the long axis of said elliptical flange.

2. The anchor of claim 1, wherein said dome portion has a flat inner surface at its apex.

3. The anchor of claim 1, wherein said dome portion is asymmetric, and said apertures are disposed on a side of said dome portion so as to be substantially aligned with the direction of extension of said sutures.

4. The anchor of claim 3, wherein said dome portion is shaped to fit closely within and be at least partially supported by said bone tunnel.

5. A method of anchoring a graft ligament disposed within a a bone tunnel with respect to said bone tunnel, comprising the steps of:

forming an aperture through a portion of the ligament to be anchored,

passing a suture through said aperture,

providing an anchor, said anchor being a unitary member formed of a bioresorbable material, and comprising a first dome portion, adapted to fit into the bone tunnel, and a second flange portion surrounding said dome portion and adapted to rest on the surface of said bone surrounding said bone tunnel and prevent said anchor from being pulled into said bone tunnel, said dome portion including at least two apertures for passage of sutures therethrough,

said anchor being further formed such that said flange is elliptical in plan and said apertures are opposed to one another on either side of the long axis of said elliptical flange,

aligning said at least two apertures transverse to the direction of tension exerted thereon by said sutures in use,

passing said suture through said at least two apertures in said anchor, and

tying said suture to exert a desired degree of tension on said graft ligament.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising the step of forming said anchor such that said dome portion has a flat inner surface at its apex.

7. The method of claim 5, comprising the step of forming said anchor such that said dome portion is asymmetric, and such that said apertures are disposed on a side of said dome portion, and the further step of aligning said apertures in use substantially with the direction of extension of said sutures.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising the step of shaping said dome portion to fit closely within and be at least partially supported by said bone tunnel.