Prosthesis (i.e. – artificial body members) – parts thereof – or ai – Implantable prosthesis – Ligament or tendon
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-17
2001-09-04
Willse, David H. (Department: 3738)
Prosthesis (i.e., artificial body members), parts thereof, or ai
Implantable prosthesis
Ligament or tendon
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283996
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to devices and methods for use in a ligament repair or replacement surgical procedure for fitting and mounting a ligament graft end in a prepared ligament tunnel.
2. Prior Art
In a practice of an arthroscopic surgical procedure for repair or replacement on an anterior or posterior cruciate ligament, that the invention is suitable for use in, a pair of tunnel sections are drilled into the distal femur and proximal tibia, respectively, to intersect the ligament points of origin.
In which procedure a system is provided for fitting a ligament graft in the tunnel sections, securing one end therein and applying a desired tension to the other ligament end and securing it. A number of systems have been developed to provide for fitting a ligament graft end into which tunnel sections, including a mounting of a ligament graft end to a device for pulling it through a tunnel section end. One such device is a suture sling that is suitable for such use and can be arranged for use with the present invention.
Such a suture sling can be utilized with the present invention that is mounted to a bone end of a bone tendon bone graft. The suture sling is used for pulling a graft bone end through aligned tunnel sections with the ligament mounting of the present invention secured to the suture sling and for mounting in the ligament tunnel or at a tunnel end.
Additionally, one or both of the inventors have heretofore developed a number of cruciate ligament mounting arrangements and methods such as, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,772,286; 4,870,957; 4,927,421; 4,997,433; 5,129,902; 5,147,362 and Re. 34,293, and other persons have also developed ligament graft mountings, for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,301,551; 4,605,414; 4,744,793; 4,950,270 and 5,139,520. None of which earlier devices, arrangements and methods, however, have involved a device secured to a ligament end to slide through a footing to lock thereto that, for the invention, includes a combination of the straight flexible strap and footing and includes locking members for locking the strap in the footing, which strap, in turn, connects to a suture sling or other ligament attachment arrangement, nor have such earlier devices and arrangements taught a method like that of the invention.
While graft attachment and anchoring devices have been heretofore utilized, and such an arrangement for anchoring a ligament graft in a ligament replacement procedure is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,301 such provides a footing only and teaches a complicated draw string arrangement that is different to use and secure and is unlike the strap and footing of the invention and its use. Also while strap and footings have been heretofore used, and examples of such arrangements and their uses are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,306,301; 5,500,000; and 5,520,691, such have been as mounting for securing an item, such as a ligament suture, or the like onto a bone surface, none have utilized a sliding strap and footing with a locking arrangement combination, along with a ligament end tether such as a suture sling arrangement, or the like, to easily adjust tension on and mount a bone tendon bone type ligament graft, or the like, in a tunnel section proximate to or at a tunnel segment cortex end, that is like that of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide embodiments of an adjustable length strap and footing with locking arrangement for use for mounting a ligament end, where the strap distal end is for connecting to a ligament graft end as by a suture or suture sling or directly thereto, and enables a pulling of the ligament graft end along a tunnel section or sections, with the proximal strap end to fit through a footing positioned across the tunnel section cortex end and provides for locking the strap to the footing at a selected point along that strap where a proper tension is applied to the ligament end as a ligament end mounting.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable length strap and footing for ligament mounting where the strap is arranged to slide through a hole formed through the footing shortening the distance between the strap distal end and footing, with the footing arranged to lock onto the strap thereat, providing a desired strap length relative to the footing.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable length strap and footing for ligament mounting where the strap is arranged to receive, preferably secured to its distal end, a ligament graft end or a suture or suture sling arrangement that, in turn, connects to a ligament graft end.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable length strap and footing for ligament mounting where the strap is formed as a single unit, preferably from a flexible material, such as a plastic, to include locking members formed at spaced intervals therealong, that is formed as a disk with a center hole therethrough which footing hole is formed to slightly compress each locking member as it passes therethrough, and flexes outwardly to where the locking member edge extends over the hole edge locking thereto when a force is applied to pull the strap distal end back through the footing hole.
Still another object of the present invention is in another embodiment of an adjustable length strap arranged as a thread, chain, cable, or the like, or even a suture, to fit through a footing that can be crimped onto the strap at a selected position therealong.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide still another embodiment where the adjustable length strap can be smooth walled or have greater and lesser diameter segments formed therealong for fitting through a footing center hole that is formed to include a locking panel or cantilever elements to be elevated by passage of the strap through the footing in one direction and lock to the strap when pulled oppositely as when the connected ligament graft is placed under tension.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable length strap and footing for ligament mounting of a ligament graft end, under tension, in a prepared ligament tunnel, that is easy, convenient and reliable to use in a ligament repair procedure and, as appropriate, can be formed of a material to be absorbed by a patient's body during a healing process.
The present invention is in an adjustable length strap and footing for use in mounting a ligament graft end in a prepared ligament tunnel formed into a bone. For mounting the femoral end of a ligament graft utilizing the invention, the femoral tunnel is initially drilled as a first tunnel section to within the bone endosteum, with further drilling then taking place to extend the tunnel as a second tunnel section, that passes through the posterior cortex utilizing a same or lesser diameter drill than used to drill the first tunnel section. The invention provides a straight strap for mounting directly or through sutures to a ligament graft end on its distal end. The strap body includes, locking members, formed therealong that can be a series of right angle teeth that slope towards the strap distal end, a number of spaced cone members that slope towards the strap distal end, a chain having greater diameter and adjacent lesser diameter components, or a straight bar can be employed that is for fitting into a footing that includes a locking panel. Further, a thread, cord, chain, or even a suture section the strap for fitting through a footing that can be squeezed or crimped thereon, or the like. The strap is preferably pointed at its proximal end that is to fit through the footing, that for the series of teeth, spaced cones, or the like, is preferably a washer or disk having a center transverse hole that is slightly smaller in diameter than the strap cross section at a tooth apex or a cone skirt. Whereby the individual spaced teeth or cones will travel therethrough, traveling past an edge or lip of which center transverse ho
Chervitz Alan
Fallin Thomas Wade
Goble E. Marlowe
Medicine Lodge Inc.
Russell M. Reid
Willse David H.
LandOfFree
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