GRAFT FIXATION USING A PLUG AGAINST SUTURE
First Claim
1. A method of soft tissue repair, comprising the steps of:
- attaching at least one suture to a soft tissue graft to be affixed to a bone;
capturing the suture attached to the graft by passing the suture through an aperture of an implant releasably attached at a distal end of a driver such that the suture can slide freely through the aperture of the implant, the implant having a conical portion terminating in a pointed tip at its most distal end;
inserting the implant having a pointed tip and the suture passing through the implant into the bone using the driver, without pre-drilling a hole in the bone;
pulling on one end of the suture to draw the suture through the aperture of the implant such that the soft tissue graft attached to the suture is drawn toward the bone; and
advancing an interference device, preloaded on the driver, toward the distal end of the driver to securely engage and lock the implant and the suture in the bone.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for securing soft tissue to bone which does not require the surgeon to tie suture knots to secure the tissue to the bone. Suture is passed through the graft at desired points. A cannulated plug or screw is pre-loaded onto the distal end of a driver provided with an eyelet implant at its distal end. Suture attached to the graft is passed through the eyelet of the implant located at the distal end of the driver. The distal end of the driver together with the eyelet implant is inserted into the bone. Tension is applied to the suture to position the graft at the desired location relative to the bone. The screw or plug is advanced into the pilot hole by turning the interference screw or tapping the plug until the cannulated screw or plug securely engages and locks in the eyelet implant, so that the cannulated plug or screw with the engaged eyelet implant is flush with the bone. Once the screw or plug is fully inserted and the suture is impacted into the bone, the driver is removed and any loose ends of the sutures protruding from the anchor site are then clipped short.
27 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A method of soft tissue repair, comprising the steps of:
-
attaching at least one suture to a soft tissue graft to be affixed to a bone; capturing the suture attached to the graft by passing the suture through an aperture of an implant releasably attached at a distal end of a driver such that the suture can slide freely through the aperture of the implant, the implant having a conical portion terminating in a pointed tip at its most distal end; inserting the implant having a pointed tip and the suture passing through the implant into the bone using the driver, without pre-drilling a hole in the bone; pulling on one end of the suture to draw the suture through the aperture of the implant such that the soft tissue graft attached to the suture is drawn toward the bone; and advancing an interference device, preloaded on the driver, toward the distal end of the driver to securely engage and lock the implant and the suture in the bone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A system for interference fixation of a suture in a hole in bone without requiring pre-drilling of a hole in the bone, comprising:
-
a driver including a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; a cannulated interference device preloaded on the driver and disposed coaxially with the shaft, the cannulated interference device having an inner diameter and an outer diameter; and an implant releasably attached at the distal end of the driver, the implant having an aperture for receiving a suture such that the suture can slide freely through the aperture of the implant, the implant having a conical portion terminating in a pointed tip at its most distal end, the implant being releasably attached at the distal end of the driver and having a width smaller than the inner diameter of the cannulated interference device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
Specification