Method and apparatus for reconstructing a ligament
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Apparatus for reconstructing a ligament, said apparatus comprising:
- a bone fixation element having a distal end, a proximal end, and a central bore extending between said distal end and said proximal end, said central bore having a first diameter, said bone fixation element having an exterior surface with a thread outwardly projecting therefrom and said bone fixation element being adapted for positioning in a bone tunnel;
a flexible filament having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end having retaining means for holding a graft ligament, and said flexible filament having a second diameter smaller than said first diameter so as to allow said flexible filament to slidingly pass through said central bore of said bone fixation element, whereby said flexible filament holding the graft ligament in the bone tunnel is slideably positionable through said central bore of said bone fixation element; and
a crimp crimped onto said flexible filament such that said crimp is securely fixed to said flexible filament independent of engagement between said crimp and said bone fixation element, whereby said crimp is fixedly positionable to said flexible filament adjacent to said proximal end of said bone fixation element so as to prevent distal movement of said flexible filament relative to said bone fixation element and hence prevent distal movement of said graft ligament in the bone tunnel.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus is disclosed for reconstructing a ligament, the apparatus including a bone fixation element having a central bore and adapted for positioning in a bone tunnel, a flexible filament configured for holding a graft ligament, and a crimp configured for attachment to the flexible filament so as to prevent movement of the graft ligament in the bone tunnel.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. Apparatus for reconstructing a ligament, said apparatus comprising:
-
a bone fixation element having a distal end, a proximal end, and a central bore extending between said distal end and said proximal end, said central bore having a first diameter, said bone fixation element having an exterior surface with a thread outwardly projecting therefrom and said bone fixation element being adapted for positioning in a bone tunnel; a flexible filament having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end having retaining means for holding a graft ligament, and said flexible filament having a second diameter smaller than said first diameter so as to allow said flexible filament to slidingly pass through said central bore of said bone fixation element, whereby said flexible filament holding the graft ligament in the bone tunnel is slideably positionable through said central bore of said bone fixation element; and a crimp crimped onto said flexible filament such that said crimp is securely fixed to said flexible filament independent of engagement between said crimp and said bone fixation element, whereby said crimp is fixedly positionable to said flexible filament adjacent to said proximal end of said bone fixation element so as to prevent distal movement of said flexible filament relative to said bone fixation element and hence prevent distal movement of said graft ligament in the bone tunnel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method for reconstructing a ligament, said method comprises:
-
providing apparatus for reconstructing a ligament, said apparatus comprising; a bone fixation element having a distal end, a proximal end, and a central bore extending between said distal end and said proximal end, said central bore having a first diameter, said bone fixation element comprising an exterior surface with a thread outwardly projecting therefrom and said bone fixation element being adapted for positioning in a bone tunnel; a flexible filament having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end having retaining means for holding a graft ligament, and said flexible filament having a second diameter smaller than said first diameter so as to allow said flexible filament to slidingly pass through said central bore of said bone fixation element, whereby said flexible filament holding the graft ligament in the bone tunnel is slideably positionable through said central bore of said bone fixation element; and a crimp configured for attachment to said flexible filament, said crimp having at least one given cross-sectional width, said at least one given cross-sectional width being greater than said first diameter, whereby said crimp is fixedly positionable to said flexible filament adjacent to said proximal end of said bone fixation element so as to prevent distal movement of said flexible filament relative to said bone fixation element and hence prevent distal movement of said graft ligament in the bone tunnel; positioning said flexible filament through said central bore of said bone fixation element, positioning said bone fixation element in a first bone tunnel portion, and positioning said graft ligament in a second bone tunnel portion by drawing said flexible filament through said bone fixation element; and attaching said crimp onto said flexible filament adjacent to said proximal end of said bone fixation element such that said crimp is securely fixed to said flexible filament independent of the engagement between said crimp and said bone fixation element, said crimp being attached to the flexible filament after said graft ligament is positioned within said second bone tunnel. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
-
-
10. A method for reconstructing a ligament comprising the steps of:
-
forming a tunnel within a bone; securing a bone fixation element within the tunnel, a flexible filament extending through a bore formed on the bone fixation element so that at least a portion of the flexible filament is disposed within at least a portion of the tunnel, the bone fixation element having an outwardly projecting thread that engages the bone; securing a crimp onto the flexible filament at a location spaced apart from the bone fixation element such that the crimp is securely fixed to the flexible filament, said crimp being secured onto the flexible filament after the at least a portion of the flexible filament is disposed within the at least a portion of the tunnel; and tensioning the flexible filament such that the crimp is biased against the bone fixation element. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification