Device and method for handling an implant covering a bone tunnel

• US 6,171,310 B1
• Filed: 03/29/1999
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aesculap AG (Lonza Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Aesculap AG (Lonza Group AG)
• Inventors: Giordano, Nicola, Eichhorn, Juergen, Kienzle, Karl-Ernst
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US09/280,333
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 606/60, 606/53, 606/102, 606/103, 606/104, 606/72, 606/86, 606/88, 600/587, 623/13.13, 623/13.14
• US Class Current: 606/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0406 Pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0805 Implements for inserting tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0829 without deformation of anchor parts, e.g. fixation screws on bone surface, extending barbs, cams, butterflies, spring-loaded pins
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0882 Anchor in or on top of a bone tunnel, i.e. a hole running through the entire bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30546 for adjusting elasticity, flexibility, spring rate or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4666 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0012 for adjusting elasticity, flexibility, spring rate or mechanical tension

Abstract

In order to be able to adjust the tension of a ligament replacement implant in a controlled manner, a device is suggested for handling an implant which can be placed against a contact surface of a bone and thereby covers a tunnel in the bone and fixes in position at least one thread extending in the tunnel, this device being characterized by releasable spreading elements on the device, with which the device can be connected to the implant in a locking position of the spreading elements in such a manner that as a result of rotation of the device this implant can be turned in relation to an axis defined by the tunnel and, in addition, be lifted away from the contact surface in the direction of this axis.

Claims

1. A device for handling an implant adapted to be placed against a contact surface of a bone to cover a tunnel in the bone and fix in position at least one thread extending in the tunnel, comprising:

a handle;

releasable holding means operatively associated with said handle for connecting said device to the implant in a locking position, such that by rotating the device the implant can be turned in relation to an axis defined by said tunnel and can also be lifted away from the contact surface in the direction of said axis.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the holding means comprise spreading elements adapted to engage the back of recesses on the implant in the locking position.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein the recesses are formed by the edges of openings in the implant.

4. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein the spreading elements comprise spring arms extending parallel to one another, said arms being movable away from one another at their free ends by means of a spreading member insertable between them.

5. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein the spreading member is displaceable on the device in a longitudinal direction of the spring arms.

6. A device as defined in claim 5 further comprising an elongated, essentially cylindrical housing;

wherein the spreading member is connected to an actuating rod mounted in the housing for displacement in said longitudinal direction,

said actuating rod exiting from the housing at an end remote from the spreading elements.

7. A device as defined in claim 6, wherein said actuating rod has a grip at a free end thereof.

8. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the holding means are connected to a pulling handle via an elastic spring element, wherein a force for lifting the implant away from the contact surface of the bone is transferable by said pulling handle.

9. A device as defined in claim 8, wherein a marking is provided to indicate the distance between the holding means and the pulling handle.

10. A device as defined in claim 8, wherein:

the holding means are mounted on a first housing portion of the device;

the pulling handle is securely connected to a second housing portion of the device; and

the two housing portions are adapted to be pulled apart from one another contrary to the force of a spring connecting them.

11. A device as defined in claim 10, wherein the second housing portion is designed in the shape of a sleeve that at least partially accommodates the first housing portion.

12. A device as defined in claim 11 wherein the spring is arranged in an interior of the second housing portion.

13. A device as defined in claim 12, wherein the spring is detachably connected to the second housing portion.

14. A device as defined in claim 13, wherein a fixing element insertable into the second housing portion through lateral openings therein is provided for the detachable connection of the second housing portion and the spring.

15. A device as defined in claim 14, wherein the fixing element is a U-shaped clip.

16. A device as defined in claim 10, wherein:

said spring is a helical spring; and

threaded connection pieces are screwed into said spring at its ends for connection to at least one of the first and second housing portions.

17. A device as defined in claim 10, further comprising laterally projecting gripper bars arranged on the second housing portion.

18. A device as defined in claim 10, wherein a marking is provided to indicate the distance between the holding means and the pulling handle, said marking comprising a window in the second housing and an indicator element visible through the window on the first housing portion.

19. A method for handling an implant adapted to be placed against a contact surface of a bone to cover a tunnel in the bone and fix in position at least one thread extending in the tunnel, comprising the steps of:

releasably connecting the implant to a handling device,

using the handling device to turn the implant about a longitudinal axis of the tunnel to alter the tension of the at least one thread extending in the tunnel,

wherein the implant is turned until a desired tension of the at least one thread is reached.

20. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein the implant is slightly lifted away from the contact surface prior to the turning with the handling device, in order to render means for securing the implant against rotation ineffective during the turning of the implant.

21. A method as defined in claim 20, comprising the further step of slightly lifting the implant away from the contact surface using the handling device to check the tension of the at least one thread.

22. A method as defined in claim 21, wherein the tension of the at least one thread is checked by:

pulling apart two parts of the handling device contrary to the force of a spring drawing the parts together, and

observing the distance between the parts as a function of said tension.

23. A method as defined in claim 22, wherein when the desired tension is reached, the implant is placed on the contact surface using the handling device.

24. A method as defined in claim 19, comprising the further step of slightly lifting the implant away from the contact surface using the handling device to check the tension of the at least one thread.

25. A method as defined in claim 24, wherein the tension of the at least one thread is checked by:

pulling apart two parts of the handling device contrary to the force of a spring drawing the parts together, and

observing the distance between the parts as a function of said tension.

26. A method as defined in claim 25, wherein when the desired tension is reached, the implant is placed on the contact surface using the handling device.