Ligament reconstruction tensioning device

• US 6,949,102 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2002
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scott A. Andrews 2000 Living Trust
• Original Assignee: Scott A. Andrews 2000 Living Trust
• Inventors: Andrews, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SNOW, BRUCE EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US10/166,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20030229396A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 606/61, 606/232, 606/102, 241/265.H, 241/265.B, 241/298, 241/299, 241/302, 241/69.WT, 241/71.CT, 623/13.13, 623/13.14, 623/13.2
• US Class Current: 606/102
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/08 Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments sutures A61B17/04

Abstract

The equal tension applying device is used to apply equal tension to a group of tendons. The device comprises a 3 to 9 inch elongate flexible member and a hook at each end of the flexible member. Typically a torn ACL is replaced with two loops of tendons defining 4 tendon strands. The ends of each strand have sutures therein. The tendon loops are fixed in a femoral tunnel with a fixation pin and extend into and through a tibial tunnel. The method includes the steps of: tying the ends of the sutures together to form a loop, placing a hook of the elongate tensioning device over the suture loop, applying tension on the device, followed by anchoring the ends of the tendon strands to the tibia.

Claims

1. A kit solely for use in a medical operating room, comprising a tendon tension applying device for applying equal tension to a group of tendons in a knee during a knee reconstruction procedure, said device comprising (a) one 3 to 9 inch long, flexible, non-elastic, suture, string or cord and a hook at each end of said suture, string or cord and (b) a pulling device for pulling on a loop formed by said suture, string or cord, said pulling device comprising a tensiometer device.