Method for reconstructing a ligament

• US 6,886,569 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2002
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Justin, Daniel F., Fallin, T. Wade, Chervitz, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRETT, THOMAS C
• Application Number:
  US10/335,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20030167090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1311- 132, 128/898
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1714 for applying tendons or ligaments implements for applying tendons or ligaments A61F2/0805
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1764 for the knee
• 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 2002/0841 Longitudinal channel for insertion tool running through the whole tendon anchor, e.g. for accommodating bone drill, guidewire
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0852 Fixation of a loop or U-turn, e.g. eyelets, anchor having multiple holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0882 Anchor in or on top of a bone tunnel, i.e. a hole running through the entire bone

Abstract

A method for reconstructing a ligament. In one form of the invention, there is disclosed a method for securing a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, the method comprising the steps of: (1) forming a first bone tunnel in a bone, and forming a second bone tunnel in the same bone, the second bone tunnel being transverse to, and intersecting, the first bone tunnel; (2) positioning a flexible member in the second transverse bone tunnel so that the flexible member extends across the first bone tunnel, and positioning the graft ligament in the first bone tunnel, independently of the flexible member, so that the graft ligament is looped over the flexible member; and (3) positioning a crosspin over the flexible member and in the second transverse bone tunnel so that the graft ligament is looped over, and may be supported by, the crosspin.

Claims

1. A method for securing a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, the method comprising the steps of:

(1) forming a first bone tunnel in a bone, and forming a second bone tunnel in the same bone, the second bone tunnel being transverse to, and intersecting, the first bone tunnel;

(2) positioning a flexible strand in the second transverse bone tunnel so that the flexible strand extends across said the first bone tunnel, and

(3) using a flexible loop to pull the graft ligament through the first bone tunnel, independently of the flexible strand with the graft ligament extending through the flexible loop, to position the graft ligament in the first bone tunnel;

(4) positioning a crosspin on the flexible strand and in the second transverse bone tunnel so that the graft ligament is looped over, and supported by, the crosspin; and

(5) removing the flexible loop.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of positioning the graft ligament in the first bone tunnel, independently of the flexible strand, comprises the sub-steps of:

(a) extending the flexible loop out of an open end of the first bone tunnel; and

(b) extending the graft ligament through the flexible loop and pulling the flexible loop and thereby the graft ligament into the first bone tunnel so that a portion of the graft ligament extends past the intersection of the second transverse bone tunnel with the first bone tunnel.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein after positioning the flexible strand in the second transverse bone tunnel to extend across the first bone tunnel, the step of pulling a mid-section of the strand through the first bone tunnel and out an open end of the first bone tunnel;

and

extending the graft ligament through the flexible loop and over the strand mid-section extending out of the first bone tunnel open end; and

after using the flexible loop to position the graft ligament in the first bone tunnel, pulling the flexible strand taut so that the strand underlies the graft ligament retained by the flexible loop;

such that the flexible strand underlies the mid-section of the graft ligament and guides the crosspin to a position underlying the graft ligament.

4. A method for securing a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, the method comprising the steps of:

(1) forming a first bone tunnel in a bone, and forming a second bone tunnel in the same bone, the second bone tunnel being transverse to, and intersecting, the first bone tunnel;

(2) extending a transverse drill pin through the bone, the drill pin positioning an elongated flexible strand in the second transverse bone tunnel so that the flexible member extends through the second transverse bone tunnel and across the first bone tunnel;

(3) passing a flexible loop into the first bone tunnel and pulling the flexible loop out of a first bone tunnel open end;

(4) passing a graft ligament through the flexible loop;

(5) pulling a the flexible loop, and thereby the graft ligament, into the first bone tunnel so that the graft ligament extends past the intersection of the second transverse bone tunnel with the first bone tunnel;

(6) pulling said flexible strand substantially straight in the second transverse bone tunnel

(7) positioning a crosspin on the flexible strand and in the second transverse bone tunnel so that the graft ligament is looped over the crosspin, thereby to secure the graft ligament in the first bone tunnel; and

(8) severing and removing the flexible loop.