Prosthesis (i.e. – artificial body members) – parts thereof – or ai – Implantable prosthesis – Ligament or tendon
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-09
2001-03-20
Isabella, David J. (Department: 3738)
Prosthesis (i.e., artificial body members), parts thereof, or ai
Implantable prosthesis
Ligament or tendon
C606S099000, C606S108000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203572
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to appliances used to capture and insert a soft tissue graft during an arthroscopic reconstruction, and more specifically for insertion into a tibial and femoral tunnel during an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction.
Background of the Invention
Soft tissue grafts are used frequently. In order to insert the soft tissue graft into the joint, substantial time is required to prepare the graft by whipstitching it. Such known procedures normally take approximately 10 minutes for the suturing of the graft prior to insertion. Other known surgical techniques for ACL reconstruction using a graft passer are described in detail in the Paramax ACL Guide System from Linvatec Corporation. The same procedure is also described in another Linvatec publication entitled “Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.” Numerous patents have disclosed reconstructive ACL surgical techniques involving prosthetic ligament assemblies. Typical of these patents are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,790,850; 4,775,380; 4,668,233; 5,171,274; 5,456,721; 4,917,700; 4,917,699; 5,549,676; 5,116,373; and 4,932,972. Other patents disclosed replacements for biological tissue to function in parallel or in place of biological tissue for temporary or permanent use. Typical of these patents are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,946,377; 5,217,495; 5,147,400; 4,990,158; 3,176,316; and 4,834,755.
Braided or woven tubular designs which have application as novelty toys and are commonly known as “finger traps” are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 869,683; 2,442,176; and 2,688,961. U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,139 shows a bi-directional suture anchor. U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,203 shows a traction mechanism in the form of a finger trap which can be used as a traction device for implantation of prosthetic meniscus in a knee when placed in tension and the device can be removed with a release loop which places the finger trap in compression to increase its diameter for disengagement.
It is an object of the invention to eliminate the need for whipstitching which had previously been done to reduce the dimension of a 4-bundle semitendinosus graft so that it could be pulled into the tunnel and fixed with interference screws. The objective of the invention is to use the finger trap tubular structure to place the sutures on the surface of the graft to hold multiple bundles of the graft together as a quicker and easier option than suturing them together with whipstitching using multiple sutures.
Another objective of the invention is to render optional the suturing of the soft tissue graft in order to be able to insert it into the femoral and tibial tunnels, for example, or into tunnels for any other joint. Another objective of the invention is to decrease the overall time required for ACL reconstruction or other types of reconstruction using this procedure. Another objective is to make the device absorbable once it has served its function of placement of the soft tissue graft in the tunnels for fixation by, for example, screw insertion.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device and method which is economical and simple to use in a variety of reconstructive surgeries.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A device is disclosed for delivery of grafts such as, for example, semitendinosus and/or gracilis tendons for reconstructive surgery. The device is a woven structure whose diameter is reduced when placed in tension. It has a tapering end and an open end. A suture is looped within the device so that the loop extends from the open end to receive the folded graft. The suture is pulled to insert the graft into the device. The graft, after folding and being pulled into the device, may have sutures extending out of one end as an optional feature to facilitate subsequent fixation. The sutures extending through the tapered end are pulled, tightening the device around the graft while pulling the device with the graft inside through the bone tunnels such as, for example, tibial and femoral tunnels. The narrow tapering end traps the graft as the device tightens around the graft for insertion into the tunnels. The suture ends are threaded through a conventional suture-passing device so that the suture can pass through the tunnel and out through a small opening in the lateral femur. The suture pulls the device and the graft into the bone tunnels. The device remains in place and is absorbed due to its construction of compatible suture and the graft is secured in a conventional manner with, for example, bioabsorbable interference screws.
REFERENCES:
patent: 869686 (1907-10-01), Bauno
patent: 2442176 (1948-05-01), Orr et al.
patent: 2688961 (1954-09-01), Thomas
patent: 3176316 (1965-04-01), Bodell
patent: 4584722 (1986-04-01), Levy et al.
patent: 4668233 (1987-05-01), Seedhom et al.
patent: 4775380 (1988-10-01), Seedhom et al.
patent: 4790850 (1988-12-01), Dunn et al.
patent: 4834755 (1989-05-01), Silvestrini et al.
patent: 4917699 (1990-04-01), Chervitz
patent: 4917700 (1990-04-01), Aikins
patent: 4932972 (1990-06-01), Dunn et al.
patent: 4946377 (1990-08-01), Kovach
patent: 4990158 (1991-02-01), Kaplan et al.
patent: 4997434 (1991-03-01), Seedhom et al.
patent: 5116373 (1992-05-01), Jokob et al.
patent: 5147400 (1992-09-01), Kaplan et al.
patent: 5171274 (1992-12-01), Fluckiger et al.
patent: 5217495 (1993-06-01), Kaplan et al.
patent: 5451203 (1995-09-01), Lamb
patent: 5456721 (1995-10-01), Legrand
patent: 5549676 (1996-08-01), Johnson
patent: 5571139 (1996-11-01), Jenkins, Jr.
Linvatec Concept Arthroscopy, “The Paramax ACL Guide System Surgical Technique”, 28 pages.
Johnson Donald H.
Powers Donald A.
Duane Morris & Heckscher LLP
Isabella David J.
Linvatec Corporation
LandOfFree
Device and method for ligament reconstruction does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device and method for ligament reconstruction, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device and method for ligament reconstruction will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2497270