Anterior cruciate ligament tether
First Claim
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1. A method for temporarily holding a tibia and a femur of a knee together in setting a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, comprising steps of:
- (a) inserting a flexible, elongate material having a tibial portion and a femoral portion into the knee;
(b) securing said femoral portion of said material to said femur at anatomic attachment of the anterior cruciate ligament; and
(c) securing said tibial portion of said material to said tibia at the anatomic attachment of the anterior cruciate ligament, whereby said material mimics native anterior cruciate ligament function by maintaining physiological distance between said femur and said tibia during motion thus preventing distraction of the healing anterior cruciate ligament in all degrees of flexion and extension during healing of the ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
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Abstract
A device and method to provide a surgically inserted internal tether between the femur and tibia is provided which will prevent distraction of the healing anterior cruciate ligament in all degrees of flexion and extension, at all times. The anterior cruciate ligament tether preserves the four-bar cruciate linkage, critical for normal knee mechanics. In addition, placement of the tether provides bleeding into the knee in the region of the anterior cruciate ligament attachment sites and the consequent inflow of pluripotential cells and healing mediators.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for temporarily holding a tibia and a femur of a knee together in setting a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, comprising steps of:
- (a) inserting a flexible, elongate material having a tibial portion and a femoral portion into the knee;
(b) securing said femoral portion of said material to said femur at anatomic attachment of the anterior cruciate ligament; and
(c) securing said tibial portion of said material to said tibia at the anatomic attachment of the anterior cruciate ligament, whereby said material mimics native anterior cruciate ligament function by maintaining physiological distance between said femur and said tibia during motion thus preventing distraction of the healing anterior cruciate ligament in all degrees of flexion and extension during healing of the ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- (a) inserting a flexible, elongate material having a tibial portion and a femoral portion into the knee;
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