Flip-wing tissue retainer

• US 7,097,654 B1
• Filed: 10/07/2000
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yosef Freedland
• Original Assignee: Yosef Freedland
• Inventors: Freedland, Yosef
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Julian W.
• Application Number:
  US10/169,062
• Time in Patent Office: 2,152 Days
• Field of Search: 606/72, 606/74, 606/151, 606/232, 623 1311- 132, 411/340, 411/345
• US Class Current: 606/232
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7225 for bone compression
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7233 with special means of locking the nail to the bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7266 with fingers moving radially outwardly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• 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 2002/0864 Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor elements, e.g. by additional screws in the anchor, anchor crimped around tendon
• 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 2002/0888 Anchor in or on a blind hole or on the bone surface without formation of a tunnel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0007 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0012 for adjusting elasticity, flexibility, spring rate or mechanical tension

Abstract

An orthopedic flip-wing tissue retainer (2) comprises a flip-wing (7), tissue-retaining means (8) and a joint formed between the flip-wing (7) and the tissue-retaining means (8). The tissue retainer (2) is easily installed and used to anchor a biological tissue. The tissue retainer (2) can be used in combination with other devices to replace or repair a ligament or tendon in a joint. In particular, when used for ligament replacement, the tissue retainer (2) eliminates or at least minimizes the twisting that typically occurs during conventional surgery. In addition, the tension of the ligament graft can be precisely adjusted by using a tension-adjusting device (3 or 203) in combination with the flip-wing tissue retainer (2). The tension-adjusting device (203) can include a ball (204)-and-socket (205) joint.

Claims

1. A system for repairing or reconstructing a ligament in a human or animal joint, the system comprising:

a flip-wing tissue retainer for installation in a first bone of the joint;

a tension-adjusting device for installation in a second bone of the joint; and

a ligament graft engaged with the flip-wing tissue retainer and the tension-adjusting device, the system further including a;

ball-and-socket nut assembly comprising a convex curved surface nut having an internal threaded bore for receiving the tension-adjusting device;

a concave socket adapted to receive, mate with and retain the nut, the socket having a first hole or first notch through a portion thereof for receiving a portion of the tension-adjusting device engaged with the nut, wherein the hole or notch is smaller in size than the nut; and

a flange attached to a portion of the periphery of the socket, the flange having a second hole or second notch through a portion thereof, wherein the second hole or second notch is sufficiently large in size to permit passage of the nut into the socket.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the nut further comprises tool engaging means adapted to receive a tool that can be used to drive or rotate the nut when engaged with the tension-adjusting device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the tool-engaging means comprises at least one recess.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the tension-adjusting device includes a washer interposed between the nut and a tissue-retaining means at one end of the tension-adjusting device, the washer having a shoulder adapted to engage the tool used to drive the nut such that when the tension-adjusting device is assembled, the tool will be able to rotate and longitudinally displace the nut without having to rotate or longitudinally displace the washer and thereby tension the ligament graft.