Endosteal tibial ligament fixation with adjustable tensioning

• US 6,558,389 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2001
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raymond E. Olsen, Ron Clark
• Original Assignee: Raymond E. Olsen, Ron Clark
• Inventors: Clark, Ron, Olsen, Raymond E.
• Primary Examiner(s): REIP, DAVID OWEN
• Application Number:
  US09/846,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20020065528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 606/72, 606/74, 606/151, 606/213, 606/232, 606/73, 411/338, 411/339, 411/508, 411/509, 411/510, 411/485, 411/456, 623/13.11, 623/13.12, 623/13.13, 623/13.14
• US Class Current: 606/916
• 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 2002/0852 Fixation of a loop or U-turn, e.g. eyelets, anchor having multiple holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0858 Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor and bone, e.g. interference screws, wedges
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/087 Anchor integrated into tendons, e.g. bone blocks, integrated rings
• 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 2250/0007 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/908 Bioabsorbable material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/91 Polymer

Abstract

A system for endosteal tibial ligament fixation with adjustable tensioning is disclosed. A grasping hook located on a shaft is used to draw a ligament graft into a contoured drill hole formed in a bone. A series of slanted ridges on the shaft can pass in only one direction through a securing push nut residing in the contoured drill hole, resulting in an interference fit that secures the attachment system, while allowing the tension of the ligament graft to be adjusted.

Claims

1. A device for the fixation of a ligament or tendon implant to a bone of a patient comprising:

an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene ligament attachment member comprising a grasping hook configured for grasping a free end of the ligament or tendon implant, a shaft attached to the grasping hook, and a series of slanted ridges formed along the long axis of the shaft, the ligament attachment member adapted to fit within a contoured drill hole in said bone;

an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene push nut for securing the ligament attachment member to the bone, disposed to attach to the shaft of the ligament attachment member when the shaft is inserted into the push nut, the push nut further comprising one or more flanges surrounding a central hole, the flanges configured to allow slanted ridges on the shaft to pass in one direction when the shaft is inserted into the central hole, but engaging the slanted ridges in an interference fit when the shaft is moved in an opposite direction to thereby inhibit movement of said ligament attachment member relative to the bone in a direction opposite the direction in which the shaft is inserted as the push nut is secured against an annular ledge of the contoured drill hole in the bone, where a larger-diameter portion of the contoured drill hole is connected to a narrower-diameter portion of the contoured drill hole, and the entire device remains inside an endosteal portion of said bone;

wherein said grasping hook is an open loop with an open portion;

wherein said grasping hook has a circular shape forming at least 60% of the arc length of a circle;

wherein said grasping hook has a free end portion, said free end portion extending away from said shaft to thereby operate as a guide for guiding said ligament or tendon into said loop;

wherein the push nut has a frusto-conical shape configured to match a frusto-conical shape of a drill hole in the bone to provide an increased contact area between the push nut and the bone; and

wherein said grasping hook has a substantially uniform thickness characterized by an absence of a pointed end to prevent said grasping hook from embedding into the bone.

2. A device for the fixation of a ligament or tendon implant to a bone of a patient comprising:

a ligament attachment member, said ligament attachment member being constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of titanium, cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloy, cobalt-chromium alloy, titanium-aluminum vanadium alloy, titanium-aluminum alloy and a bio-absorbable material, said ligament attachment member comprising a grasping hook configured for grasping a free end of the ligament or tendon implant, a shaft attached to the grasping hook, and a series of slanted ridges disposed on the shaft along a long axis of the shaft, the ligament attachment member adapted to fit within a contoured drill hole in said bone;

a push nut for securing the ligament attachment member to the bone, said push nut configured and arranged to attach to the shaft of the ligament attachment member when the shaft is inserted into the push nut, the push nut further comprising one or more flanges surrounding a central hole, the flanges configured to allow slanted ridges on the shaft to pass in one direction when the shaft is inserted into the central hole, but engaging the slanted ridges in an interference fit when the shaft is forced in an opposite direction to thereby inhibit movement of said ligament attachment member relative to the bone in a direction opposite the direction in which the shaft is inserted as the push nut is secured against an annular ledge of the contoured drill hole in the bone, wherein a larger-diameter portion of the contoured drill hole is connected to a narrower-diameter portion of the contoured drill hole, and the entire device remains inside an endosteal portion of said bone;

wherein said grasping hook is an open loop with an open portion;

wherein said grasping hook includes a main portion having a circular shape forming at least a continuous 60% portion of an arc length of a circle such that said main portion extends in a first, circular path;

wherein said grasping hook further includes a free end surface, said free end surface extending away from said shaft along a second, linear path that extends in a different direction than the first, circular path, to thereby operate as a guide for guiding said ligament or tendon into said loop;

wherein the push nut includes a frusto-conical shaped portion configured to match a frusto-conical shape of drill holes in bones to provide potential for an increased contact area between the push nut and the bone;

wherein said shaft and said main portion of said grasping hook each have the same substantially uniform thickness; and

wherein the grasping hook consists of a single grasping hook and wherein the main portion of said hook extends from the shaft in said first, circular path to a first location beyond a first side of the shaft and then to a second location beyond a second side of the shaft, such that a proximal portion of the hook resides at the first location and a distal portion of the hook resides at the second location.

3. A system for repairing a joint within an endosteal portion of a bone of a patient, said system comprising:

an implant for attachment to said bone as a ligament or tendon;

an attachment member comprising a grasping hook configured for grasping a free end of the implant, a shaft attached to the grasping hook, and a series of slanted ridges disposed on said shaft along a long axis of the shaft, the attachment member adapted to fit within a contoured drill hole in said bone;

a push nut for securing the attachment member to the bone, disposed to attach to the shaft of the attachment member when the shaft is inserted into the push nut, the push nut further comprising one or more flanges surrounding a central hole, the flanges configured to allow slanted ridges on the shaft to pass in one direction when the shaft is inserted into the central hole, but engaging the slanted ridges in an interference fit when the shaft is moved in an opposite direction to thereby inhibit movement of said attachment member relative to the bone in a direction opposite the direction in which the shaft is inserted as the push nut is secured against an annular ledge of the contoured drill hole in the bone, where a larger-diameter portion of the contoured drill hole is connected to a narrower-diameter portion of the contoured drill hole, and the entire device remains inside said endosteal portion of said bone;

wherein said grasping hook includes a main portion having a circular shape forming at least a continuous 60% portion of an arc length of a circle such that said main portion extends in a first, circular path;

wherein said grasping hook further includes a free end surface, said free end surface extending away from said shaft along a second, linear path that extends in a different direction than the first, circular path, to thereby operate as a guide for guiding said implant into said loop;

wherein the push nut includes a frusto-conical shaped portion configured to match a frusto-conical shape of drill holes in bones to provide potential for an increased contact area between the push nut and the bone;

wherein said shaft and said main portion of said grasping hook each have the same substantially uniform thickness; and

wherein the grasping hook consists of a single grasping hook and wherein the main portion of said hook extends from the shaft in said first, circular path to a first location beyond a first side of the shaft and then to a second location beyond a second side of the shaft, such that a proximal portion of the hook resides at the first location and a distal portion of the hook resides at the second location.