Graft fixation implant
First Claim
1. A graft fixation implant comprising:
- an elongated body having a length parallel to a longitudinal axis and a width parallel to a transverse axis when viewed in a top plan view, a common plane of said elongated body being defined by said longitudinal axis and said transverse axis, and said length being greater than said width, said elongated body comprising;
three portions positioned along said length, the three portions being a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a central portion interposed between said proximal end portion and said distal end portion, the central portion having a width that is enlarged relative to each of said proximal end portion and said distal end portion, each of said proximal end portion and said distal end portion tapering to become relatively narrower while extending from said central portion to a rounded proximal tip and a rounded distal tip, respectively;
a slot formed through the elongated body, said slot being axially aligned with said longitudinal axis and extending proximally and distally on either side of said transverse axis;
a generally cylindrical core separating said slot into a proximal aperture and a distal aperture positioned within said proximal end portion and said distal end portion, respectively, said core being aligned with said transverse axis; and
a pulling-suture receiving aperture extending through said core, a center axis of said pulling-suture receiving aperture being offset from said common plane, being situated parallel to said transverse axis, and being situated perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The subject invention is a fixation device or anchor intended to secure a graft ligament or other soft tissue repair. The device is designed to be attached to a graft ligament and to secure the graft within a bone tunnel by extending transversely across the opening of the tunnel. In certain procedures the device is intended to pass through a bone tunnel in an orientation generally aligned with the tunnel and then turn transversely. The device has an inherent tendency to rotate upon exiting the tunnel to thereby become automatically transversely aligned with the tunnel and the graft ligament. The rotation is due to a moment automatically created as a resultant of forces applied to the anchor by a pulling-suture via a laterally offset aperture joining the pulling-suture to the anchor.
38 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A graft fixation implant comprising:
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an elongated body having a length parallel to a longitudinal axis and a width parallel to a transverse axis when viewed in a top plan view, a common plane of said elongated body being defined by said longitudinal axis and said transverse axis, and said length being greater than said width, said elongated body comprising; three portions positioned along said length, the three portions being a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a central portion interposed between said proximal end portion and said distal end portion, the central portion having a width that is enlarged relative to each of said proximal end portion and said distal end portion, each of said proximal end portion and said distal end portion tapering to become relatively narrower while extending from said central portion to a rounded proximal tip and a rounded distal tip, respectively; a slot formed through the elongated body, said slot being axially aligned with said longitudinal axis and extending proximally and distally on either side of said transverse axis; a generally cylindrical core separating said slot into a proximal aperture and a distal aperture positioned within said proximal end portion and said distal end portion, respectively, said core being aligned with said transverse axis; and a pulling-suture receiving aperture extending through said core, a center axis of said pulling-suture receiving aperture being offset from said common plane, being situated parallel to said transverse axis, and being situated perpendicular to said longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A graft fixation implant comprising an elongated body comprising:
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a proximal end portion and a distal end portion being separated from one another by a central portion, each of said proximal end and said distal end having a top surface viewed in a top plan view and a bottom surface viewed in a bottom plan view; a width of said central portion being parallel to a transverse axis when viewed in a top plan view; a length including said proximal end portion, said central portion and said distal end portion being parallel to a longitudinal axis when viewed in said top plan view, said longitudinal axis bisecting said width, said length being longer than said width, and said longitudinal axis being perpendicular to said transverse axis; a thickness of said central portion being perpendicular to said width and said length; a common plane being defined by said transverse axis and said longitudinal axis, said common plane bisecting said thickness of said central portion; a proximal aperture extending through said top surface and said bottom surface of said proximal end, said proximal aperture being within said common plane; a distal aperture extending through said top surface and said bottom surface of said distal end, said proximal aperture being within said common plane; a generally cylindrical core positioned in said central portion, said core separating said proximal aperture from said distal aperture, said core being aligned with said transverse axis and a pulling-suture receiving aperture being situated in said core and having a center axis spaced laterally from said common plane, wherein said width of said central portion is enlarged relative to each of said proximal end portion and said distal end portion, each of said proximal end portion and said distal end portion tapering to become relatively narrower while extending from said central portion to a rounded proximal tip and a rounded distal tip, respectively.
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Specification