Method and apparatus for providing a passageway
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for use with a passageway in a surgical procedure, comprising:
- a reference structure;
a first guide member having distal and proximal ends, the proximal end being secured to the reference structure, the first guide member including a tubular member with a first passage inside of the tubular member leading from the proximal end to the distal end, the distal end of the first guide member extending away from the reference structure and arranged to be placed in a first hole in a bone so as to orient the first guide member and the reference structure relative to the bone with the first passage at the distal end communicating with the first hole;
a suture retriever movably arranged in the first passage of the first guide member, the suture retriever being movable independent of the first guide member to extend a distal end of the suture retriever from the distal end of the first guide member to engage a suture located outside of the first guide member and being movable to return to the distal end of the first guide member to retrieve the suture to the first passage; and
a second guide member having distal and proximal ends and including a tubular member with a second passage inside of the tubular member leading to the distal end, the second guide member being movably mounted to the reference structure to be movable relative to the reference structure in a direction along the second passage, the second passage of the second guide member being arranged to guide a bone perforator in formation of a second hole into the bone while the first guide member is placed in the first hole, the second hole being formed so as to be aligned and communicate with the second passage while being transverse to and intersecting with the first hole;
wherein the first and second guide members, the reference structure and the suture retriever are arranged so that suture provided into the second hole via the second passage of the second guide member, while the distal end of the first guide member is in the first hole and orients the reference structure and second guide member relative to the bone, is retrievable by (a) extension of the suture retriever from the first guide member while the distal end of the first guide member is in the first hole, (b) engagement of the suture with the suture retriever, and (c) return of the suture retriever and engaged suture to the first passage of the first guide member.
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Abstract
An apparatus for use with a passageway in a surgical procedure includes a reference structure, and first and second guide members. The first and second guide members may be arranged in a first and second positions relative to the reference structure so that passages in the guide members are adjacent, e.g., the distal ends of the guide members may be adjacent each other. This arrangement may allow for the first and second guide members to be used in forming a passageway in a body part, such as a portion of bone, and/or may provide a passageway for passing a suture or suture-like material from the first guide member to the second guide member.
133 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use with a passageway in a surgical procedure, comprising:
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a reference structure; a first guide member having distal and proximal ends, the proximal end being secured to the reference structure, the first guide member including a tubular member with a first passage inside of the tubular member leading from the proximal end to the distal end, the distal end of the first guide member extending away from the reference structure and arranged to be placed in a first hole in a bone so as to orient the first guide member and the reference structure relative to the bone with the first passage at the distal end communicating with the first hole; a suture retriever movably arranged in the first passage of the first guide member, the suture retriever being movable independent of the first guide member to extend a distal end of the suture retriever from the distal end of the first guide member to engage a suture located outside of the first guide member and being movable to return to the distal end of the first guide member to retrieve the suture to the first passage; and a second guide member having distal and proximal ends and including a tubular member with a second passage inside of the tubular member leading to the distal end, the second guide member being movably mounted to the reference structure to be movable relative to the reference structure in a direction along the second passage, the second passage of the second guide member being arranged to guide a bone perforator in formation of a second hole into the bone while the first guide member is placed in the first hole, the second hole being formed so as to be aligned and communicate with the second passage while being transverse to and intersecting with the first hole; wherein the first and second guide members, the reference structure and the suture retriever are arranged so that suture provided into the second hole via the second passage of the second guide member, while the distal end of the first guide member is in the first hole and orients the reference structure and second guide member relative to the bone, is retrievable by (a) extension of the suture retriever from the first guide member while the distal end of the first guide member is in the first hole, (b) engagement of the suture with the suture retriever, and (c) return of the suture retriever and engaged suture to the first passage of the first guide member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification