Method for reconstructing a knee

• US 7,172,626 B1
• Filed: 05/11/2005
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scott A. Andrews
• Original Assignee: Scott A. Andrews
• Inventors: Andrews, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SNOW, BRUCE EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US11/126,639
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1311- 132
• US Class Current: 623/13.13
• 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. In a method for reconstructing a knee, wherein a torn ACL is replaced with two loops of tendons defining four tendon strands, the ends of each strand having sutures therein, the tendon loops being fixed in a femoral tunnel with a fixation pin and extending into and through a tibial tunnel, the improvement residing in the steps of:

tying the ends of each tendon together to form two tendon loops,

providing an elongate tensioning device comprising a three to nine inch long, flexible, non-elastic suture, string or cord having a first end and a second end and first and second hooks, each hook being fixed to one end of the suture, string or cord,

placing each hook of the elongate tensioning device over one of the two tendon loops,

applying tension on the elongate tensioning device to apply tension on the four tendon strands,

followed by anchoring the ends of the four tendon strands to the tibia.

2. The method of claim 1 including, the step of monitoring the tension applied to the four tendon strands.

3. In a method for reconstructing a knee, wherein a torn ACL is replaced with two loops of tendons defining four tendon strands, the ends of each strand having sutures therein, the tendon loops being fixed in a femoral tunnel with a fixation pin and extending into and through a tibial tunnel, the improvement residing in the steps of:

tying the ends of each tendon together to form two tendon loops,

providing an elongate tensioning device comprising a flexible, non-elastic suture, string or cord with a hook fixed to each end of the suture, string or cord,

placing each hook of the elongate tensioning device in one of the tendon loops thereby creating a flexible device loop with the suture, string or cord;

inserting a rigid rod through the flexible device loop;

followed by gripping the rod and pulling on same to place equal tension on the four tendon strands.