Device for the femoral fixation of the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons for the reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee

• US 6,440,134 B1
• Filed: 07/31/2000
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andrea Castiglioni, Giovanni Zaccherotti
• Original Assignee: Andrea Castiglioni, Giovanni Zaccherotti
• Inventors: Zaccherotti, Giovanni, Castiglioni, Andrea
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Pedro
• Application Number:
  US09/629,152
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 606/62, 606/63, 606/64, 606/65, 606/67, 606/68, 606/53, 606/232, 606/233, 623/13.11, 623/13.12, 623/16.11
• US Class Current: 606/62
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• 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 2002/0852 Fixation of a loop or U-turn, e.g. eyelets, anchor having multiple holes
• 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

A device for the femoral fixation of the ST and G tendons for the reconstruction of the ACL of the knee, comprises an elongated body (1), passage (2) for anchoring the tendons to the body (1), formed in correspondence to a distal end thereof; and a set bar (9) pivotally supported by the elongated body about a transverse axis in correspondence to a proximal end thereof. The set bar (9) comprises a couple of coaxial stop arms (9b) and is pivotable between two insertion positions, angularly spaced by 180°. While keeping set bar (9) in a insertion position, the device is inserted into consecutive tunnels (12a, 13a) preliminarily formed in the tibia and femur, until the proximal end of the body (1) partly projects out of the femoral tunnel (13a). In such condition the set bar (9) is rotated to a fixation position in order to cause the abutment of the stop arms (9b) against the surface of the femur.

Claims

1. A device for the femoral fixation of the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons for the reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament, comprising:

an elongated body (1);

means (2, 3) for anchoring said tendons to said body (1), formed in correspondence to a distal end of the body; and

a set bar (9) pivotally supported by said body (1) about a transverse axis in correspondence to a proximal end of the body (1), said set bar (9) comprising a couple of coaxial stop arms (9b) and being pivotable between two insertion positions, angularly spaced by 180°

, in each insertion position a respective stop arm (9b) extending beyond the proximal end of said body (1), coaxially thereto, whereby the device is inserted into consecutive tunnels (12a, 13a) preliminarily formed in the tibia (12) and femur (13) of a patient, while keeping said set bar (9) in a insertion position, until the proximal end of said body (1) partly projects out of the femoral tunnel (13a), and in such condition said set bar (9) is rotated to a fixation position, intermediate between said insertion positions, in order to cause the abutment of said stop arms (9b) against the cortical surface (13b) of said femur (13), the sliding of said body (1) within said tunnels (12a, 13a) and the rotation of said set bar (9) being operated by the surgeon via threads (14a, 14b) attached to the respective stop arms (9b).

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said means for anchoring the tendons to said elongated body (1) comprise a passage (3) formed in said distal end of the body.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein said passage (3) is formed in a wedge-shaped distal end portion (2) integrally formed in said body (1).

4. The device according to claims 2, wherein said passage (3) generates a distal end rod (15) having a substantially circular cross section.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said stop arms (9b) have a smooth-edged flat shape and extend in a coplanar way between opposite sides of a central block (9a) pivotally engaged with said body (1).

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said elongated body (1) comprises a flat bit (6) integrally holding a couple of proximal end shoulders (7), an axle (8) for pivotally supporting said set bar (9) extending between said shoulders (7), in each insertion position a respective stop arm (9b) of said set bar (9) abutting against flat bit (6), while the other extends beyond the free ends of said shoulders (7).

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said shoulders (7) are shaped substantially like spherical segments comprising respective plane surfaces (7a), spaced each other and normal to said flat bit (6), the accomplishment of said insertion position being permitted thanks to symmetrical chamfers (11) formed along said set bar (9), avoiding the interference with shoulders (7).

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein a substantially cylindrical central portion (4) of body (1) coaxially and integrally extends from said wedge-shaped portion (2), leading to said flat bit (6) via two faces (5), symmetrically curved inwards, so as to taper the profile of body (1).

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein respective holes (10) are formed in said stop arms (9b) in order to assist the connection of said threads (14a, 14b)to said set bar (9).

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein said threads (14a, 14b) have different colours, whereby the surgeon can immediately distinguish which of them has to be operated.

11. The device according to claim 3, wherein said passage (3) generates a distal end rod (15) having a substantially circular cross section.