Graft ligament anchor and method for attaching a graft ligament to a bone
First Claim
1. A graft fixation device for fixing a graft member within a bone tunnel, the device comprising:
- a radially expandable sheath having a side wall, at least one structurally weakened fracture region extending longitudinally along a length of the sheath in the side wall, and a central lumen, the radially expandable sheath sized to fit within a bone tunnel so that a graft member may be accommodated between a wall of a bone tunnel and an outer surface of the radially expandable sheath; and
a sheath expander disposable in the central lumen of the radially expandable sheath to radially expand the sheath so as to fix a graft member within a bone tunnel;
wherein the structurally weakened fracture region is adapted to fracture upon radial expansion of the sheath to allow varying amounts of radial expansion.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A graft ligament anchor comprises a graft ligament engagement member disposed in an opening in a bone, the graft ligament engagement member being arranged to receive a graft ligament alongside the engagement member, and a locking member for disposition in the opening, and at least in part engageable with the graft ligament engagement member. Movement of the locking member in the opening causes the locking member to urge the engagement member, and the graft ligament therewith, toward a wall of the opening, to secure the graft ligament to the wall of the opening. A method for attaching a graft ligament to a bone comprises providing an opening in the bone, inserting the graft ligament and a graft ligament engagement member in the opening, with the graft ligament disposed alongside a first portion of the engagement member, and inserting a locking member in the bone alongside a second portion of the engagement member, the locking member being separated from the graft ligament by the graft ligament engagement member. The method further comprises moving the locking member to cause the locking member to engage the graft ligament engagement member to urge the graft ligament engagement member, and the graft ligament therewith, toward a wall of the opening to secure the graft ligament to the wall of the opening.
391 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A graft fixation device for fixing a graft member within a bone tunnel, the device comprising:
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a radially expandable sheath having a side wall, at least one structurally weakened fracture region extending longitudinally along a length of the sheath in the side wall, and a central lumen, the radially expandable sheath sized to fit within a bone tunnel so that a graft member may be accommodated between a wall of a bone tunnel and an outer surface of the radially expandable sheath; and
a sheath expander disposable in the central lumen of the radially expandable sheath to radially expand the sheath so as to fix a graft member within a bone tunnel;
wherein the structurally weakened fracture region is adapted to fracture upon radial expansion of the sheath to allow varying amounts of radial expansion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A graft fixation device for fixing a graft member within a bone tunnel, the device comprising:
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a radially expandable sheath having a side wall comprising a plurality of longitudinal side wall segments separated by convex longitudinal flex regions having convex outer surfaces, the radially expandable sheath being sized to fit within a bone tunnel and defining a central lumen;
each side wall segment being flexible and having a concave outer surface adapted to enclose a graft member between the concave outer surface and a bone tunnel wall; and
a sheath expander disposable in the central lumen of the radially expandable sheath to flex the convex longitudinal flex regions and the flexible concave wall segments to radially expand the sheath so as to fix a graft member within a bone tunnel. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification