System and method for meniscal repair through a meniscal capsular tunnel
First Claim
1. A method of repairing a damaged meniscus of a knee, the method comprising:
- inserting a repair member into an anterior portion of a meniscal capsular tunnel of the knee;
actuating the repair member from a position anterior to the meniscus either medially or laterally around at least a portion of the meniscus to position at least a first end of the repair member posteriorly of the meniscus, within the meniscal capsular tunnel; and
passing the first end from the meniscal capsular tunnel through at least a portion of the meniscus.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for open or arthroscopic surgical repair of torn or damaged meniscal tissue has a repair member and an instrument. The repair member is a suture, flexible or rigid implant. The instrument has at a portion that is shaped to slide within a meniscal capsular tunnel. The meniscal capsular tunnel is an opening in the knee soft tissue passing from the anterior side of the knee adjacent to the mensical tissue to the posterior side of the knee in both the medial and lateral directions. The instrument interacts with the repair member to either insert it into the meniscus from the posterior side, or to facilitate securing of the repair member so that the repair member holds the meniscal tissue together on either side of a meniscal tear to foster healing of the damaged tissue.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of repairing a damaged meniscus of a knee, the method comprising:
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inserting a repair member into an anterior portion of a meniscal capsular tunnel of the knee; actuating the repair member from a position anterior to the meniscus either medially or laterally around at least a portion of the meniscus to position at least a first end of the repair member posteriorly of the meniscus, within the meniscal capsular tunnel; and passing the first end from the meniscal capsular tunnel through at least a portion of the meniscus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of repairing a damaged meniscus of a knee, the method comprising:
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passing a first end of a first repair member through at least a portion of the meniscus; inserting an instrument into an anterior portion of a meniscal capsular tunnel of the knee; actuating the instrument from a position anterior to the meniscus either medially or laterally around at least a portion of the meniscus to position at least a distal end of the instrument posteriorly of the meniscus, within the meniscal capsular tunnel; manipulating the first end with the distal end within a meniscal capsular tunnel of the knee; and securing the first repair member to the meniscus in response to manipulation of the first end of the first repair member. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of repairing a damaged meniscus of a knee, the method comprising:
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pressing a distal end of an instrument against tissues within the knee to dilate a potential space between the tissues anteriorly of the meniscus to permit passage of the distal end posterior to the meniscus; actuating the instrument from a position anterior to the meniscus either medially or laterally around at least a portion of the meniscus to position at least the distal end of the instrument posteriorly of the meniscus, within a meniscal capsular tunnel; inserting a first end of a repair member through at least a portion of the meniscus from a position exteriorly of a tear positioned posteriorly, medially, or laterally on the meniscus; and securing the first end to substantially prevent withdrawal of the repair member from the meniscus during normal operation of the knee to expedite reparation of the tear; wherein the steps of inserting the first end of the repair member through at least a portion of the meniscus and securing the repair member are carried out without requiring retraction of ligamentomuscular structures positioned exteriorly of the tear. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification