Method for soft tissue attachment
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of fixing a graft in a selected region of an anatomy with an anchor member, comprising:
- forming a bore in the selected region of the anatomy thereby defining an interior surface within the bore and an exterior surface outside of the bore;
interconnecting a flexible member with a connection region of the anchor member, the flexible member biased in a substantially relaxed position and the anchor member oriented in an activated position;
attaching the graft to the flexible member;
passing the anchor member through a selected portion of the bore with the flexible member in a stressed position and the anchor member oriented in a non-activated position;
moving the anchor member out from within the bore to cause the flexible member to return to the relaxed position, which orients the anchor member in the activated position, and selectively engaging the exterior surface with the anchor member; and
affixing the graft in a selected position.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for fixing a selected graft relative to a selected anatomical portion. An anchor may be provided that may be interconnected with a selected graft portion that is operable to pass through a selected bore and then moved into an operable position to engage a selected portion of the bore to substantially eliminate the possibility of the graft moving in an unselected direction through the bore. In addition, a spacer member may be used to expand a selected portion of the graft to reduce localized stress and may increase ingrowth into a selected bony portion.
401 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of fixing a graft in a selected region of an anatomy with an anchor member, comprising:
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forming a bore in the selected region of the anatomy thereby defining an interior surface within the bore and an exterior surface outside of the bore; interconnecting a flexible member with a connection region of the anchor member, the flexible member biased in a substantially relaxed position and the anchor member oriented in an activated position; attaching the graft to the flexible member; passing the anchor member through a selected portion of the bore with the flexible member in a stressed position and the anchor member oriented in a non-activated position; moving the anchor member out from within the bore to cause the flexible member to return to the relaxed position, which orients the anchor member in the activated position, and selectively engaging the exterior surface with the anchor member; and affixing the graft in a selected position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of fixing a graft in a selected region of an anatomy with an anchor member, comprising:
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attaching the graft to a first flexible member biased in a substantially relaxed position and extending from an engaging portion of the anchor member that is between a first end and a second end of the anchor member, where a longitudinal axis extends between the first end and the second end, and the anchor member is oriented in an activated position; pulling the anchor through a bore in the selected region using a second flexible member extending from an activation area of the anchor member that is located between the first end and a mid-point of the longitudinal axis, the first flexible member is positioned in a stressed position and the anchor is in a non-activated position as the anchor is pulled such that the longitudinal axis is approximately parallel to an axis of the bore and the first end is pulled through the bore prior to the second end, the first flexible member is biased to revert to the substantially relaxed position to cause the anchor to revert to the activated position after pulling the anchor through the bore such that the longitudinal axis is transverse to the bore; and affixing the graft in the selected region of the anatomy. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of fixing a graft in a selected region of an anatomy with an anchor member, comprising:
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attaching the graft to a first flexible member including shape memory material biased in a substantially relaxed position, the anchor positioned in an activated position, the first flexible member extends from an engaging portion of the anchor member that is between a first end and a second end of the anchor member, a longitudinal axis extends between the first end and the second end; connecting a spacer member to the first flexible member with a second flexible member such that the spacer is spaced apart from the first flexible member; pulling the anchor through a bore in the selected region using a third flexible member extending from an activation area of the anchor member that is located between the first end and a mid-point of the longitudinal axis, the first flexible member is positioned in a stressed position and the anchor is positioned in a non-activated position as the anchor is pulled such that the longitudinal axis is approximately parallel to an axis of the bore and the first end is pulled through the bore prior to the second end, the first flexible member is biased to return to the substantially relaxed position to cause the anchor member to return to the activated position after pulling the anchor through the bore such that the longitudinal axis is transverse to the bore; and affixing the graft in the selected region of the anatomy. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification