Suture buttress
First Claim
1. A suture buttress, comprising:
- a hollow tube having an outer wall, a central channel, a center line extending through the channel, a leading end for insertion into a bone tunnel and a trailing end;
the hollow tube being bendable into a curved tube having an outer radius and an outer radial surface, the outer radial surface defining a plurality of slits formed in the outer wall, the slits having a leading edge and a trailing edge corresponding to the leading end and trailing end of the tube;
at least one projecting member integral with and extending outward from the outer wall, the at least one projecting member being sufficiently strong to form a friction fit within a bone tunnel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A suture buttress comprises a hollow tube having an outer wall, a central channel, a center line extending through the channel, leading end for insertion into a bone tunnel and a trailing end. The hollow tube is bendable into a curved tube having an outer radius and an outer radial surface, the outer radial surface defining a plurality of slits formed in the outer wall. The suture buttress further includes at least one projecting member integral with and extending outward from the outer wall. The at least one projecting member is sufficiently strong to form a friction fit within a bone tunnel. A method for using the suture buttress to attach soft tissue to bone by inserting the suture buttress into a tunnel formed in bone, passing a suture through the tunnel and suture buttress and using the suture to attach soft tissue to the bone.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A suture buttress, comprising:
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a hollow tube having an outer wall, a central channel, a center line extending through the channel, a leading end for insertion into a bone tunnel and a trailing end; the hollow tube being bendable into a curved tube having an outer radius and an outer radial surface, the outer radial surface defining a plurality of slits formed in the outer wall, the slits having a leading edge and a trailing edge corresponding to the leading end and trailing end of the tube; at least one projecting member integral with and extending outward from the outer wall, the at least one projecting member being sufficiently strong to form a friction fit within a bone tunnel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for attaching soft tissue to a bone comprising the steps of:
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forming a first hole at least through cortical bone tissue of the bone proximate to the soft tissue attachment site; forming a second hole at least through cortical bone tissue of the bone spaced a predetermined distance apart from the first hole; connecting the first hole and the second hole though subcortical bone tissue to form a tunnel in the bone; providing a suture buttress system comprising; a hollow tube having an outer wall, a central channel, a center line extending through the channel, a leading end for insertion into a bone tunnel and a trailing end; the hollow tube being bendable into a curved tube having an outer radius and an outer radial surface, the outer radial surface defining a plurality of slits formed in the outer wall and extending past the center line, the slits having a leading edge and a trailing edge corresponding to the leading end and trailing end of the tube; at least one projecting member extending outward from the outer wall, the at least one projecting member being sufficiently strong to form a friction fit within a bone tunnel; inserting the leading end of the suture buttress system into the bone tunnel and securing the buttress within the tunnel; attaching a suture to the soft tissue and passing the suture through the bone tunnel and through the channel in the buttress; and securing the suture to secure the soft tissue to the bone. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification