Method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to a bone
First Claim
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1. A method for coupling soft tissue to bone, comprising:
- forming a tunnel in the bone;
positioning a flexible anchor having a suture construct coupled thereto into the tunnel, the flexible anchor having an elongated tubular body extending from a first end to a second opposed end, the tubular body defining a longitudinal bore extending from the first end to the second end of the tubular body, the suture construct being in the form of a closed loop of suture having a first looped section and a second looped section opposite the first looped section, the first looped section remaining outside the bore near the first end of the tubular body, the second looped section passing through the bore and exiting the bore at a position intermediate the first and second ends of the tubular body such that a remaining portion of the bore of the tubular body extending from the intermediate position to the second end of the tubular body includes an absence of the suture construct;
coupling the soft tissue to the suture construct;
pulling the flexible anchor with the soft tissue coupled thereto through the tunnel via the remaining portion of the tubular body; and
applying tension to the suture construct to collapse the flexible anchor relative to a positive locking surface of the bone from a first undeformed profile configured for passing the flexible anchor through the tunnel to a second deformed profile forming an anchoring mass relative to the positive locking surface.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for coupling a soft tissue implant into a locking cavity formed within a bone is disclosed. The apparatus includes a member to pull the soft tissue implant into a femoral tunnel. The member includes a suture having first and second ends which are passed through first and second openings associated with the longitudinal passage to form a pair of loops. A collapsible tube is positioned about the suture. Application of tension onto the suture construction causes retraction of the soft tissue implant into the femoral tunnel and the collapse of the tube to form an anchor.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for coupling soft tissue to bone, comprising:
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forming a tunnel in the bone; positioning a flexible anchor having a suture construct coupled thereto into the tunnel, the flexible anchor having an elongated tubular body extending from a first end to a second opposed end, the tubular body defining a longitudinal bore extending from the first end to the second end of the tubular body, the suture construct being in the form of a closed loop of suture having a first looped section and a second looped section opposite the first looped section, the first looped section remaining outside the bore near the first end of the tubular body, the second looped section passing through the bore and exiting the bore at a position intermediate the first and second ends of the tubular body such that a remaining portion of the bore of the tubular body extending from the intermediate position to the second end of the tubular body includes an absence of the suture construct; coupling the soft tissue to the suture construct; pulling the flexible anchor with the soft tissue coupled thereto through the tunnel via the remaining portion of the tubular body; and applying tension to the suture construct to collapse the flexible anchor relative to a positive locking surface of the bone from a first undeformed profile configured for passing the flexible anchor through the tunnel to a second deformed profile forming an anchoring mass relative to the positive locking surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for coupling soft tissue to bone, comprising:
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forming a first tunnel in a first bone; forming a second tunnel in a second bone; positioning a flexible anchor having a suture construct coupled thereto into the second tunnel, the flexible anchor having a body extending along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second opposed end thereof, the body defining a hollow interior that extends from the first end to the second end along the longitudinal axis, the suture construct being in the form of a closed loop of suture having a first looped end section outside the first end of the body and a second looped section opposite the first looped section passing through the hollow interior and exiting the hollow interior at a position intermediate the first and second ends of the body such that a remaining portion of the body extending from the intermediate position to the second end of the body along the longitudinal axis includes an absence of the suture construct; coupling soft tissue to the suture construct; pulling the flexible anchor with the soft tissue coupled thereto through the second tunnel via the body such that the flexible anchor is positioned outside the first tunnel and the soft tissue extends at least into the second tunnel; and applying tension to the suture construct to collapse the flexible anchor relative to an outer surface of the second bone from a first profile configured for passing the flexible anchor through at least the second tunnel to a second profile forming an anchoring mass relative to the outer surface of the second bone. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for coupling soft tissue to bone, comprising:
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forming a tunnel in a femur; positioning a flexible anchor having a suture construct coupled thereto into at least the tunnel, the flexible anchor having a deformable body extending from a first end to a second opposed end thereof along a longitudinal axis, the body defining a hollow interior that extends from the first end to the second end, the suture construct being in the form of a closed loop of suture having a first looped section and a second looped section, the second looped section opposite the first looped section, the closed loop passing from the first end through the hollow interior and the second looped section exiting the hollow interior at a position intermediate the first and second ends of the body; looping soft tissue into and over the first looped section and a second opposed looped section of the closed loop of suture to couple the soft tissue to the suture construct; pulling the flexible anchor with the soft tissue coupled thereto through the tunnel via the remaining portion of the body such that the flexible anchor is positioned outside the tunnel and the soft tissue extends at least into the tunnel; and applying tension to the suture construct to collapse the flexible anchor relative to an outer surface of the femur from a first elongated profile configured for passing the flexible anchor through at least the tunnel to a second curved profile forming an anchoring mass relative to the outer surface of the femur.
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Specification