Ligament fixation device and method

• US 6,221,107 B1
• Filed: 08/03/1998
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Mark E. Steiner
• Inventors: Prudden, John Jr., Steiner, Mark E., Burke, Dennis W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Milano, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/128,145
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 623/13, 623/13.11-13.2
• US Class Current: 623/13.14
• 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 2002/0835 with deformation of anchor parts, e.g. expansion of dowel by set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0864 Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor elements, e.g. by additional screws in the anchor, anchor crimped around tendon
• 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

The invention relates to a device for attaching a ligament graft to the inside of a bone passage from a proximal location, the device including (1) a non-expansible ring having an interior passage through which the ligament graft may extend, the ring sized to fit within the bone passage; (2) a radially expansible gripping member sized to enter the ring and to press the ligament outwardly against the interior surface of the ring; and (3) an expander coupled to the expansible gripping member, constructed to expand the expansible gripping member to grip the ligament against the ring.

Claims

1. A device for attaching a ligament graft to the inside of a predetermined bone tunnel from its proximal aspect, the device comprising:

a non-expansible ring having an interior passage through which the ligament graft may extend, the ring sized and adapted to fit within and be secured in the bone tunnel;

a radially expansible gripping member sized to enter the ring and to press the ligament outwardly against the interior surface of the ring; and

an expander coupled to the expansible gripping member, constructed to expand the expansible gripping member to grip the ligament against the ring, the device including a relatively narrow strut which extends from the ring proximally to a securing member attached to its proximal end, the securing member constructed and arranged to engage an exterior surface of the bone and to secure the ring in the cortical region of the bone passage at a position spaced distally from the exterior surface of the bone.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the ring is rigid.

3. A device for attaching a ligament graft to the inside of a predetermined bone tunnel from its proximal aspect, the device comprising:

a non-expansible ring having an interior passage through which the ligament graft may extend, the ring sized and adapted to fit within and be secured in the bone tunnel;

a radially expansible gripping member sized to enter the ring and to press the ligament outwardly against the interior surface of the ring; and

an expander coupled to the expansible gripping member constructed to expand the expansible gripping member to grip the ligament against the ring, and wherein the ring includes at least one aperture disposed to permit in-growth of bone about the ligament graft.

4. A device for attaching a ligament graft to the inside of a predetermined bone tunnel from its proximal aspect, the device comprising:

a non-expansible ring having an interior passage through which the ligament graft may extend, the ring sized and adapted to fit within and be secured in the bone tunnel;

a radially expansible gripping member sized to enter the ring and to press the ligament outwardly against the interior surface of the ring; and

an expander coupled to the expansible gripping member, constructed to expand the expansible gripping member to grip the ligament against the ring, further comprising;

at least one strut extending distally from the ring; and

a distal member disposed at the distal end of the strut in position to limit distal movement of the gripping member.

5. The device of claim 4 in which there are at least two spaced apart struts that extend distally, in supporting relationship with said distal member.

6. The device of claim 4 in which the distal member is a base from which a rod extends proximally through the ring passage, upon which a member acts to expand the gripping member.

7. The device of claim 6 in which the rod is threaded and the gripping member is associated with a threaded expander engaged upon the threaded rod for expanding the expansible member.

8. The device of claim 7 in which the threaded expander is of wedge form, arranged to radially wedge apart portions of the expansible gripping member.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein a strut extends proximally from the ring to a securing member attached to its proximal end, the securing member constructed and arranged to engage an exterior surface of the bone and to secure the ring in the cortical region of the bone passage.

10. A device for attaching a ligament graft to the inside of a predetermined bone tunnel from its proximal aspect, the device comprising:

a non-expansible ring having an interior passage through which the ligament graft may extend, the ring sized and adapted to fit within and be secured in the bone tunnel;

a radially expansible gripping member sized to enter the ring and to press the ligament outwardly against the interior surface of the ring;

an expander coupled to the expansible gripping member, constructed to expand the expansible gripping member to grip the ligament against the ring, the expansible gripping member comprising a set of circumferentially arranged proximally extending leg portions constructed and arranged to be splayed apart by wedging action of a centrally introduced member and in which the exterior surface of the leg portions have ligament gripping projections, and in which the ring supports a threaded rod that extends through the gripping member, in combination with a threaded expander wedge constructed and arranged to be threaded on the threaded rod into the expansible gripping member in a wedging relationship.

11. A device for attaching a ligament graft to the inside of a predetermined bone tunnel from its proximal aspect, the device comprising:

a non-expansible ring having an interior passage through which the ligament graft may extend, the ring sized and adapted to fit within and be secured in the bone tunnel;

a radially expansible gripping member sized to enter the ring and to press the ligament outwardly against the interior surface of the ring;

an expander coupled to the expansible gripping member, constructed to expand the expansible gripping member to grip the ligament against the ring, the expansible gripping member comprising a set of circumferentially arranged proximally extending leg portions constructed and arranged to be splayed apart by wedging action of a centrally introduced member and in which the exterior surface of the leg portions have ligament gripping projections, and in which the expansible gripping member supports a threaded rod extending proximally from the gripping member in combination with a threaded expander wedge constructed and arranged to be threaded on the threaded rod into the expansible gripping member in a wedging relationship.

12. A device for attaching a ligament graft to the inside of a predetermined bone tunnel from its proximal aspect, the device comprising:

a non-expansible ring having an interior passage through which the ligament graft may extend, the ring sized and adapted to fit within and be secured in the bone tunnel;

a radially expansible gripping member sized to enter the ring and to press the ligament outwardly against the interior surface of the ring;

an expander coupled to the expansible gripping member, constructed to expand the expansible gripping member to grip the ligament against the ring, and in which the expansible member supports a threaded rod extending proximally from the gripping member in combination with a threaded wedge element constructed and arranged to be threaded on the threaded rod into the expansible gripping member in a wedging relationship.

13. The device of claim 12 in which the securing member is a flange having bone-penetrating formations.

14. A device for attaching a ligament graft to the inside of a bone tunnel from a proximal aspect, the device comprising:

a non-expansible ledge structure providing an interior passage through which the ligament graft may extend, the structure sized and adapted to fit within and be secured in the bone tunnel;

a gripping member sized to be opposed to the ledge structure and to grip the ligament against a portion of the ledge structure; and

at least one strut extending distally from the portion of the ledge structure against which the ligament is gripped,

a distal member disposed at the distal end of the strut in position to limit distal movement of the gripping member.

15. The device of claim 14 in which the gripping member is expansible radially to grip the ligament against the ledge structure and position the ligament for incorporation by in-growth of bone from the wall of the tunnel.

16. The device of claim 14 in which the ledge structure is carried on a continuous ring.

17. A device for attaching a ligament graft to the inside of a bone tunnel from an extra-articular location, the device comprising:

a rigid ring having an interior passage through which the ligament graft may extend, the ring sized to fit within the bone tunnel;

a gripping member constructed and arranged to grip a ligament graft against the interior surface of the rigid ring; and

at least one relatively narrow strut extending proximally from the ring,

a securing member attached to the proximal end of the strut, the securing member sized to engage an exterior surface of the bone to secure the ring in the cortical region of the bone tunnel at a position spaced distally from the exterior surface of the bone.

18. The device of claim 17 in which the peripheral outer surface of the ring is cylindrical.

19. The device of claim 17 in which the securing member is a flange.

20. The device of claim 17 in which the gripping member is expansible to grip the ligament against the ring;

and

an expander is coupled to the expandable gripping member, constructed to expand the gripping member to grip the ligament against the ring.

21. The device of claim 20 in which the gripping member, when in position within the ring, has a distal portion extending beyond the ring that positions a corresponding portion of the ligament near or at the surface of the bone passage in the path of in-growing bone.

22. The device of claim 17 in which the gripping member is expansible to grip the ligament against the ring.

23. A device for attaching a ligament graft to the inside of a bone tunnel from an extra-articular location, the device comprising:

a rigid ring having an interior passage through which the ligament graft may extend, the ring sized to fit within the bone tunnel;

a gripping member constructed and arranged to grip a ligament graft against the interior surface of the rigid ring;

at least one strut extending proximally from the ring,

a securing member attached to the proximal end of the strut, the securing member sized to engage an exterior surface of the bone to secure the ring in the cortical region of the bone tunnel, and in which a bone-penetrating formation is carried by the securing member.

24. A device for attaching a ligament graft to the inside of a bone tunnel from an extra-articular location, the device comprising:

a rigid ring having an interior passage through which the ligament graft may extend, the ring sized to fit within the bone tunnel;

a gripping member constructed and arranged to grip a ligament graft against the interior surface of the rigid ring;

at least one strut extending proximally from the ring,

a securing member attached to the proximal end of the strut, the securing member sized to engage an exterior surface of the bone to secure the ring in the cortical region of the bone tunnel, and in which the securing member is a flange having a hole sized to receive an awl-like tool to hold the member in position against rotation while a portion of the device is turned during the procedure.

25. A device for attaching a ligament graft to the inside of a bone tunnel from a proximal aspect, the device comprising:

a non-expansible ring having an interior passage through which the ligament graft may extend, the ring sized and adapted to fit within and be secured in the bone passage;

strut portions extending proximally and distally from the ring;

a securing member attached to the end of the proximally-extending strut portion, the securing member sized to engage an exterior surface of the bone to secure the ring in the cortical region of the bone tunnel;

a base member attached to the distal end of the distally extending strut portion;

a threaded rod extending proximally from the base member through the ring;

and a gripping member disposed between the rod and the ring, the gripping member constructed to grip the ligament against the ring.