Apparatus and method for reconstructing a ligament

• US 6,610,064 B1
• Filed: 08/09/2000
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DePuy Mitek Holding Corporation, Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson), DePuy Synthes Products LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Goble, Eugene Marlowe, Justin, Daniel F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vanatta, A.
• Application Number:
  US09/634,162
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 606/72, 606/99, 606/96, 606/98, 606/73, 606/148, 623/13.11, 623/13.12, 623/13.14, 128/898
• US Class Current: 606/232
• 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 2002/0852 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 system is disclosed for securing a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, the system comprising: a flexible member for positioning the graft ligament in the bone tunnel; a flexible member delivery device comprising a suture holder for positioning the two ends of the flexible member in the bone tunnel, the suture holder comprising a pair of hooks on a distal end of the device and protruding therefrom, each of the hooks being configured to receive and retain a closed loop on an end of the flexible member; and a pulling member having a hook-shaped end configured for engaging and withdrawing one end of the flexible member from the delivery device positioned in the bone tunnel and pulling that end of the flexible member through a portion of a second bone tunnel which intersects, and extends traverse to, the first-mentioned bone tunnel.

Claims

1. A method for securing a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, said method comprising the steps of:

(1) forming a first bone tunnel in a bone, and forming a second bone tunnel in the same bone, said second bone tunnel being transverse to, and intersecting, said first bone tunnel, said second bone tunnel having first and second portions extending from said first bone tunnel;

(2) positioning first and second ends of a flexible member within said first bone tunnel such that said first and second ends are located adjacent to the intersection of said second transverse bone tunnel with said first bone tunnel, and extracting the first and second ends out of the first and second portions of the second bone tunnel, respectively, and positioning the graft ligament over a portion of said flexible member extending out of said first bone tunnel; and

(3) pulling said ends of said flexible member so as to draw said graft ligament into said first bone tunnel.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of positioning a crosspin over said flexible member and in said second transverse bone tunnel so that said graft ligament is looped over and supported by said crosspin.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the second step comprises the sub-steps of:

pushing said first and second ends of said flexible member up said first bone tunnel;

attaching said first and second ends of said flexible member to pulling members extending into said first bone tunnel from said first and second portions of said second bone tunnel, respectively; and

pulling said first and second ends of said flexible member through said first and second portions of said second transverse bone tunnel, respectively.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the second step comprises the sub-steps of:

pushing said first and second ends of said flexible member up said first bone tunnel;

attaching said first end of said flexible member to a pulling member extending into said first bone tunnel through said first portion of said second bone tunnel;

pulling said first end of said flexible member through said first portion of said second transverse bone tunnel;

attaching said second end of said flexible member to said pulling member extending into said first bone tunnel through said second portion of said second bone tunnel; and

pulling said second end of said flexible member through said second portion of said second transverse bone tunnel.

5. Apparatus for securing a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, said apparatus comprising:

a flexible member delivery device having a suture holder for carrying both ends of a flexible member into the bone tunnel, the suture holder comprising a pair of hooks on a distal end of the device and protruding therefrom, each of the hooks being configured to receive and retain a closed loop on an end of the flexible member, said delivery device being cannulated for receiving an arthroscope within said cannulated delivery device.

6. A system for securing a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, said system comprising:

a flexible member for positioning the graft ligament in the bone tunnel;

a flexible member delivery device comprising a suture holder for positioning the two ends of said flexible member in the bone tunnel, the suture holder comprising a pair of hooks on a distal end of the device and protruding therefrom, each of the hooks being configured to receive and retain a closed loop on an end of the flexible member; and

a pulling member having a hook-shaped end configured for engaging and withdrawing one end of said flexible member from said delivery device positioned in the bone tunnel and pulling that end of said flexible member through a portion of a second bone tunnel which intersects, and extends traverse to, the first-mentioned bone tunnel.

7. A system according to claim 6 further comprising an arthroscope associated with said delivery device to aid in the visualization of positioning and grasping said ends of said flexible member.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein said delivery device is cannulated and said arthroscope is disposed within said cannulated delivery device.

9. A system according to claim 6 wherein said end of said pulling member comprises a suture grasping device.

10. A system according to claim 6 wherein said pulling member is adapted to extract each end of said flexible member.

11. A system according to claim 6 further comprising a second pulling member, whereby said pulling member and said second pulling member are adapted to be used to simultaneously extract an end of said flexible member.