Apparatus and method for ligament fixation

• US 8,100,968 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2002
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kwan-Ho Chan
• Original Assignee: Kwan-Ho Chan
• Inventors: Chan, Kwan-Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Pedro
• Application Number:
  US10/202,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20020188298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,471 Days
• Field of Search: 606/72, 606/232, 606/73, 606/86, 606/96, 606/99, 623 1311- 1314, 623 2311- 2314, 623/13.18, 623/23.23, 623/22.43, 623/22.44
• US Class Current: 623/13.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0403 Dowels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0448 Additional elements on or within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0451 Cams or wedges holding the suture by friction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0805 Implements for inserting tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0829 without deformation of anchor parts, e.g. fixation screws on bone surface, extending barbs, cams, butterflies, spring-loaded pins
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0835 with deformation of anchor parts, e.g. expansion of dowel by set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0852 Fixation of a loop or U-turn, e.g. eyelets, anchor having multiple holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0858 Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor and bone, e.g. interference screws, wedges
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0864 Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor elements, e.g. by additional screws in the anchor, anchor crimped around tendon
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/087 Anchor integrated into tendons, e.g. bone blocks, integrated rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0882 Anchor in or on top of a bone tunnel, i.e. a hole running through the entire bone

Abstract

A jamming retainer for fixing a ligament in a bone tunnel without excessive sideways pressure on the ligament that may result in tissue necrosis, the jamming retainer including a substantially rigid body with a bore or loop for receiving a ligament or tendon and a bore or ring for receiving a suture for towing the jamming retainer and ligament or tendon through a bone tunnel. Once positioned, the jamming retainer is fixed in the bone tunnel with an interference screw.

Claims

1. In combination, a secondary surgical implant and a primary surgical implant, said secondary surgical implant for use with said primary surgical implant in a bone tunnel having an axis, a predetermined diameter along the length of said tunnel, a proximal end and a distal end, said primary surgical implant engaging a ligament graft within said bone tunnel, said ligament graft being in alignment with said axis and occupying a predetermined amount of space within said tunnel such that the transverse cross-sectional area of the graft-occupied portion of said tunnel comprises a first predetermined size at a first point adjacent said primary implant, said first predetermined size being less than that of the graft-unoccupied portion of said tunnel at a second point adjacent the distal end of the tunnel, said second point being distal of said primary surgical implant and longitudinally spaced distally from said first point, said secondary implant comprising:

a body having a second predetermined size smaller than said predetermined diameter to enable said body to fit within said bone tunnel distal end but greater than said first predetermined size whereby said body is too large to come out of said bone tunnel past said primary surgical implant; and

means to enable said body to be secured to said ligament graft.

2. A secondary implant according to claim 1 wherein said means to enable said body to be secured to said ligament graft comprises a throughbore in said body.

3. In a method for securing a ligament graft in a bone tunnel, having a first predetermined transverse area, to prevent longitudinal motion of said graft in said tunnel by constricting at least a portion of said ligament graft with a first device into a second predetermined transverse area within said tunnel, said second predetermined transverse area being smaller than said first predetermined transverse area, the improvement comprising the steps of:

securing to one end of said ligament graft a second device, having a size greater than said second predetermined transverse area, prior to placing said second device into said bone tunnel; and

inserting said first device into said tunnel, in constricting opposition to said ligament graft, after said second device and ligament graft have been placed into said tunnel.

4. A method according to claim 3 further comprising the step of inserting said first device until it contacts said second device.

5. A method according to claim 3 wherein said first device is an interference screw.

6. A method of securing a ligament graft having a first end and a second end within a bone tunnel, said bone tunnel having a peripheral wall and having a first distal end and a second proximal end, said method comprising the steps of:

attaching a secondary surgical implant to said first end of said ligament graft, said secondary surgical implant comprising a body having a predetermined size small enough to enable said body to fit within said bone tunnel distal end but too large to pass a primary surgical implant;

placing said first end of said ligament graft, with said secondary surgical implant distally attached thereto, adjacent said first end of said tunnel; and

securing said first end of said ligament graft within said first end of said bone tunnel by constricting it with said a primary surgical implant interposed between said first end of said ligament graft and said peripheral wall.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said bone tunnel has a predetermined uniform diameter along its length and wherein said secondary surgical implant comprises, in a plane transverse to said tunnel, at least one dimension less than or equal to said predetermined diameter to enable said secondary surgical implant to be placed at said first distal end of said bone tunnel by passing through said second proximal end of said bone tunnel.

8. A method according to claim 6 wherein said primary surgical implant is an interference screw and wherein the body of said secondary surgical implant is spherical and has a diameter greater than the distance between said interference screw and the wall of said bone tunnel opposite from said interference screw.