U.S. patent application number 09/789398 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-29 for graft ligament anchor and method for attaching a graft ligament to a bone.
Invention is credited to Martins, Harold M., Sklar, Joseph H..
Application Number | 20010047206 09/789398 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25043357 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010047206 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sklar, Joseph H. ; et
al. |
November 29, 2001 |
Graft ligament anchor and method for attaching a graft ligament to
a bone
Abstract
A graft ligament anchor comprises a graft ligament engagement
member disposed in an opening in a bone, the graft ligament
engagement member being arranged to receive a graft ligament
alongside the engagement member, and a locking member for
disposition in the opening, and at least in part engageable with
the graft ligament engagement member. Movement of the locking
member in the opening causes the locking member to urge the
engagement member, and the graft ligament therewith, toward a wall
of the opening, to secure the graft ligament to the wall of the
opening. A method for attaching a graft ligament to a bone
comprises providing an opening in the bone, inserting the graft
ligament and a graft ligament engagement member in the opening,
with the graft ligament disposed alongside a first portion of the
engagement member, and inserting a locking member in the bone
alongside a second portion of the engagement member, the locking
member being separated from the graft ligament by the graft
ligament engagement member. The method further comprises moving the
locking member to cause the locking member to engage the graft
ligament engagement member to urge the graft ligament engagement
member, and the graft ligament therewith, toward a wall of the
opening to secure the graft ligament to the wall of the
opening.
Inventors: |
Sklar, Joseph H.;
(Longmeadow, MA) ; Martins, Harold M.; (Newton,
MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Mark J. Pandiscio
Pandiscio & Pandiscio
470 Totten Pond Road
Waltham
MA
02451-1914
US
|
Family ID: |
25043357 |
Appl. No.: |
09/789398 |
Filed: |
February 20, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09789398 |
Feb 20, 2001 |
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09304885 |
May 4, 1999 |
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09304885 |
May 4, 1999 |
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08756413 |
Nov 27, 1996 |
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5899938 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
623/13.11 ;
606/66; 623/908 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 2002/087 20130101;
A61F 2002/0829 20130101; A61F 2002/0882 20130101; A61F 2002/0888
20130101; A61F 2002/0858 20130101; A61F 2/0811 20130101; A61F
2002/0852 20130101; A61F 2002/0864 20130101; A61F 2002/0835
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
623/13.11 ;
606/66; 623/908 |
International
Class: |
A61F 002/08; A61F
002/30 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A graft ligament anchor comprising: graft ligament engagement
means for disposition in an opening in a bone so that a wall of
said graft ligament engagement means is disposed adjacent to at
least one graft ligament disposed in said opening; and locking
means for disposition in said opening and at least in part
engageable with said graft ligament engagement means; whereby
movement of said locking means in said opening causes at least a
part of said locking means to engage said graft ligament engagement
means so as to urge said graft ligament engagement means, and hence
said graft ligament, toward a wall of said opening, whereby to
secure said graft ligament to said wall of said opening.
2. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 1 wherein said graft
ligament engagement means comprises a deformable sleeve.
3. The graft ligament anchor according to claim 2 wherein said
graft ligament is disposed alongside an interior wall of said
sleeve.
4. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 3 wherein said
interior wall of said sleeve is provided with inwardly extending
protrusions for engaging said graft ligament.
5. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 3 wherein said
locking means comprise a selected one of a group consisting of a
rocker arm, an expansion plug, a threaded expansion plug, and a
transverse screw.
6. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 3 wherein said graft
ligament engagement means is arranged so as to be disposed between
said locking means and said graft ligament.
7. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 6 wherein said
locking means are disposed outside of said sleeve.
8. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 3 wherein said graft
ligament engagement means are adapted to accommodate a discrete
second graft ligament disposed alongside said interior wall of said
sleeve.
9. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 2 wherein said sleeve
is made out of metal.
10. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 2 wherein said graft
ligament is disposed alongside an exterior wall of said sleeve.
11. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 10 wherein said
locking means comprise a selected one of a group consisting of a
rocker arm, an expansion plug, and a threaded expansion plug.
12. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 10 wherein said
graft ligament engagement means are adapted to accommodate a
discrete second graft ligament disposed alongside said exterior
wall of said sleeve.
13. The graft ligament anchor according to claim 12 wherein said
locking means are disposed inside of said sleeve.
14. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 1 wherein said graft
ligament engagement means comprise plate means adapted to
accommodate said graft ligament alongside a first major surface of
said plate means, and said locking means are disposed alongside a
second major surface of said plate means.
15. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 14 wherein said
first major surface of said plate means is provided with a
concavity for receiving said graft ligament.
16. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 14 wherein said
locking means comprise a selected one of a group consisting of a
rocker arm, an expansion plug, a threaded expansion plug, and a
transverse screw.
17. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 14 wherein said
plate means comprise first and second plates.
18. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 17 wherein said
first and second plates are hingedly joined.
19. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 14 wherein said
locking means comprise a threaded expansion plug which is disposed
in part in said bore and in part threadedly engaged in said bone
along said side wall of said bore.
20. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 1 wherein said graft
ligament engagement means comprise a deformable sleeve adapted to
accommodate said graft ligament alongside an interior wall of said
sleeve, and said locking means comprise a selected one of a group
consisting of a rocker arm, an expansion plug, a threaded expansion
plug, and a transverse screw, with said locking means being
arranged for disposition outside of said sleeve, and said locking
means being operable to urge said sleeve, with said graft ligament,
against said wall of said bore.
21. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 20 wherein said
graft ligament engagement means are adapted to accommodate a
discrete second graft ligament disposed alongside said interior
wall of said sleeve, said locking means being operable to urge said
sleeve, with said graft ligaments therein, against said wall of
said bore.
22. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 1 wherein said graft
ligament engagement means comprise a deformable sleeve adapted to
accommodate at least one graft ligament alongside an exterior wall
of said sleeve, and said locking means comprise a selected one of a
group consisting of a rocker arm, an expansion plug, and a threaded
expansion plug, with said locking means being arranged for
disposition within said sleeve, and said locking means being
operable to urge said sleeve, and said graft ligament, against said
wall of said bore.
23. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 22 wherein said
graft ligament engagement means are adapted to accommodate a
discrete second graft ligament disposed alongside said exterior
wall of said sleeve, said locking means being operable to urge said
sleeve, and said graft ligaments, against said wall of said
bore.
24. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 23 wherein said
graft ligament engagement means are adapted to accommodate said
graft ligaments on substantially opposite diametric sides of said
sleeve.
25. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 1 wherein said graft
ligament engagement means comprise a plate adapted to accommodate
said graft ligament alongside a first major surface of said plate,
and said locking means comprise a selected one of a group
consisting of a rocker arm, an expansion plug, a threaded expansion
plug, and a transverse screw, said locking means being disposed
alongside a second major surface of said plate, such that said
locking means are operable to move said plate and urge said graft
ligament into secure engagement with said wall of said opening.
26. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 25 wherein said
graft ligament engagement means are adapted to accommodate a
discrete second graft ligament disposed alongside said first major
surface of said plate, and said plate is adapted to urge said graft
ligament into said secure engagement with said wall of said
opening.
27. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 1 wherein said graft
ligament engagement means comprises first and second plates, said
graft ligament engagement means being adapted to accommodate a
first graft ligament alongside a first major surface of said first
plate and a discrete second graft ligament alongside a first major
surface of said second plate, said locking means being disposed
between second major surfaces of said first and second plates and
adapted to urge said first and second plates away from each other
to urge said graft ligaments against said wall of said opening.
28. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 27 wherein said
locking means comprise a selected one of a group consisting of a
rocker arm, an expansion plug, and a threaded expansion plug.
29. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 27 wherein said
first and second plates are hingedly connected to each other.
30. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 1 wherein said graft
ligament engagement means comprise a V-shaped strip, said graft
ligament engagement means being adapted to accommodate an end of
said graft ligament disposed between first and second legs of said
V-shaped strip, and another portion of said graft ligament
extending alongside an exterior surface of said second of said
legs, and said locking means comprise a threaded expansion plug
disposed partly in said opening and partly in said bone along said
wall of said opening, said expansion plug being adapted to engage
one of said legs of said graft ligament engagement means to force
said one leg to close upon the other of said legs, with said graft
ligament end clamped between said first and second legs, and to
force said graft ligament engagement means and said graft ligament
against said wall of said opening.
31. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 30 wherein said one
of said legs comprises said first leg and said other of said legs
comprises said second leg.
32. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 22 wherein said
sleeve comprises a cylindrically-shaped coil adapted to uncoil and
expand upon said operation of said locking means within said
sleeve.
33. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 1 wherein said graft
ligament engagement means comprises a plate having a plurality of
holes therethrough for passing said graft ligament therethrough,
and a further hole therethrough for receiving said locking means,
said locking means comprising a transverse screw for passing
through said plate and said graft ligament and into said wall of
said opening, to secure said graft ligament to said wall.
34. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 33 wherein a portion
of said plate is adapted to bear against said graft ligament when
said screw is deployed in said opening wall.
35. A method for attaching a graft ligament to a bone, said method
comprising the steps of: providing an opening in said bone;
inserting said graft ligament and a graft ligament engagement means
in said opening, with said graft ligament disposed alongside a
first portion of said graft ligament engagement means; inserting
locking means in said opening proximate a second portion of said
graft ligament engagement means, said locking means being separated
from said graft ligament by said graft ligament engagement means;
and moving said locking means to cause at least a portion thereof
to engage said graft ligament engagement means to urge said graft
ligament engagement means, and hence said graft ligament, toward a
wall of said opening to secure said graft ligament to said wall of
said opening.
36. A method according to claim 35 wherein said graft ligament
engagement means comprises a deformable sleeve.
37. A method according to claim 36 wherein said locking means is
disposed outside of said sleeve, said first portion of said graft
ligament engagement means comprises an interior wall of said sleeve
and said second portion of said graft ligament engagement means
comprises an exterior wall of said sleeve.
38. A method according to claim 36 wherein said locking means is
disposed inside of said sleeve, said first portion of said graft
ligament engagement means comprises an exterior wall of said
sleeve, and said second portion of said graft ligament engagement
means comprises an interior wall of said sleeve.
39. A method according to claim 35 wherein said graft ligament
engagement means comprises at least one plate.
40. A method according to claim 39 wherein said graft ligament
engagement means comprises first and second plates, said graft
ligament is disposed alongside a first major surface of one of said
plates, and said locking means is inserted between second major
surfaces of said plates.
41. A method according to claim 40 wherein said first and second
plates are hingedly connected to each other.
42. A method according to claim 39 wherein said locking means
comprises a threaded expansion plug and wherein said plug is
screwed into said wall of said opening such that a first portion of
the lengthwise extent of said plug is disposed in said opening and
a second portion of the lengthwise extent of said plug is
threadedly engaged with said bone, said plug being engageable with
said graft ligament engagement means to urge said graft ligament
engagement means and said graft ligament toward said wall of said
opening opposite from said plug.
43. A method for attaching a graft ligament to a bone, said method
comprising the steps of: providing an opening in said bone;
inserting into said opening a V-shaped strip with a nose portion of
said strip pointed inwardly of said bone; inserting an end portion
of said graft ligament between first and second legs of said
V-shaped strip; inserting a threaded expansion plug along a wall of
said opening such that a first portion of the lengthwise extent of
said plug is disposed in said opening and a second portion of the
lengthwise extent of said plug in threadably engaged with said
bone; and screwing said plug into said bone to cause said plug to
engage one of said legs of said V-shaped strip, forcing said one
leg against the other of said legs with said graft ligament between
said first and second legs and, upon further screwing in of said
plug, forcing said strip against said wall of said opening at a
location opposite from said plug to secure said strip, and thereby
said graft ligament, against said wall of said opening.
44. A method according to claim 43 wherein said one leg comprises
said first leg, and said other leg comprises said second leg.
45. A method for attaching a graft ligament to a bone, said method
comprising the steps of: providing an opening in said bone;
inserting into said opening a plate having a plurality of holes
therethrough for receiving said graft ligament and a further hole
therethrough for receiving a screw; extending said graft ligament
through said plurality of holes in an over-and-under fashion and
across said further hole; and driving a screw through said further
hole, said graft ligament and into a wall of said opening; whereby
to press a portion of said graft ligament against said wall with a
portion of said plate and to screw another portion of said graft
ligament to said wall.
46. A method according to claim 45 wherein said screw is driven
through said graft ligament and then through said further hole and
into said wall of said opening.
47. A method according to claim 45 wherein said screw is driven
through said further hole and then through said graft ligament and
into said wall of said opening.
48. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 1 wherein said graft
ligament engagement means comprises a U-shaped plate having two
free ends, and said locking means is engageable with an outside
back surface of said plate, whereby said movement of said locking
means causes at least said part of said locking means to engage
said back surface of said plate to urge said plate and said graft
ligament toward said wall of said opening to drive said plate free
ends into said wall of said opening to secure said graft ligament
to said wall of said opening.
49. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 48 wherein said
locking means comprises one selected from a group consisting of a
cam member, an expansion plug, a threaded interference screw, and a
transverse screw.
50. A graft ligament anchor according to claim 49 wherein said
anchor further comprises a tubular member for disposition in said
opening in said bone and having open first and second ends and an
opening in a side wall portion of said member, said graft ligament
extending through said first and second ends of said member, and
said plate being movable through said opening in said side wall of
said tubular member to engage said graft ligament and to lodge in
said bone opening wall.
51. A method according to claim 35 wherein said graft ligament
engagement means comprises a U-shaped plate and said locking means
is moved toward said plate to drive free ends of said plate into
said wall of said bone opening.
52. A method according to claim 51 including the further step of
providing a tubular member in said opening in said bone, said
member having first and second open ends and having an opening in a
side wall thereof, extending said graft ligament through said first
and second open ends, and moving said plate through said tubular
member side opening to engage said graft ligament and to drive said
free ends of said plate into said wall of said bone opening.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to medical apparatus and methods in
general, and more particularly to apparatus and methods for
reconstructing ligaments.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Ligaments are tough bands of tissue which serve to connect
the articular extremities of bones, or to support or retain organs
in place within the body. Ligaments are typically composed of
coarse bundles of dense white fibrous tissue which are disposed in
a parallel or closely interlaced manner, with the fibrous tissue
being pliant and flexible, but not significantly extensible.
[0003] In many cases, ligaments are torn or ruptured as a result of
accidents. As a result, various procedures have been developed to
repair or replace such damaged ligaments.
[0004] For example, in the human knee, the anterior and posterior
cruciate ligaments (i.e., the ACL and PCL) extend between the top
end of the tibia and the bottom end of the femur. The ACL and PCL
cooperate, together with other ligaments and soft tissue, to
provide both static and dynamic stability to the knee. Often, the
anterior cruciate ligament (i.e., the ACL) is ruptured or torn as a
result of, for example, a sports-related injury. Consequently,
various surgical procedures have been developed for reconstructing
the ACL so as to restore normal function to the knee.
[0005] In many instances, the ACL may be reconstructed by replacing
the ruptured ACL with a graft ligament. More particularly, with
such procedures, bone tunnels are typically formed in the top end
of the tibia and the bottom end of the femur, with one end of the
graft ligament being positioned in the femoral tunnel and the other
end of the graft ligament being positioned in the tibial tunnel.
The two ends of the graft ligament are anchored in place in various
ways known in the art so that the graft ligament extends between
the femur and the tibia in substantially the same way, and with
substantially the same function, as the original ACL. This graft
ligament then cooperates with the surrounding anatomical structures
so as to restore normal function to the knee.
[0006] In some circumstances the graft ligament may be a ligament
or tendon which is harvested from elsewhere in the patient; in
other circumstances the graft ligament may be a synthetic device.
For the purposes of the present invention, all of the foregoing can
be collectively referred to as a "graft ligament".
[0007] As noted above, the graft ligament may be anchored in place
in various ways. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,562, issued
May 9, 1989 to Robert V. Kenna; U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,793, issued May
17, 1988 to Jack E. Parr et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,755,183, issued
Jul. 5, 1988 to Robert V. Kenna; U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,421, issued
May 22, 1990 to E. Marlowe Goble et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,270,
issued Aug. 21, 1990 to Jerald A. Bowman et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
5,062,843, issued Nov. 5, 1991 to Thomas H. Mahony, III; U.S. Pat.
No. 5,147,362, issued Sep. 15, 1992 to E. Marlowe Goble; U.S. Pat.
No. 5,211,647, issued May 18, 1993 to Reinhold Schmieding; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,151,104, issued Sep. 29, 1992 to Robert V. Kenna; U.S.
Pat. No. 4,784,126, issued Nov. 15, 1988 to Donald H. Hourahane;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,590,928, issued May 27, 1986 to Michael S. Hunt et
al.; and French Patent Publication No. 2,590,792, filed Dec. 4,
1985 by Francis Henri Breard.
[0008] Despite the above-identified advances in the art, there
remains a need for a graft ligament anchor which is simple, easy to
install, and inexpensive to manufacture, while providing secure,
trouble-free anchoring of the graft ligament, typically in the knee
joint of a mammal.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to
provide an improved graft ligament anchor which is relatively
simple in construction and therefore inexpensive to manufacture,
relatively easy to handle and install, and reliable and safe in
operation.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
improved method for attaching a graft ligament to a bone.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] These and other objects of the present invention are
addressed by the provision and use of a novel graft ligament anchor
comprising graft ligament engagement means for disposition in an
opening in a bone, such that a wall of the graft ligament
engagement means resides adjacent to at least one graft ligament
disposed in the opening, and locking means for disposition in the
opening in the bone and at least partially engageable with the
graft ligament engagement means. The elements of the graft ligament
anchor are adapted such that movement of the locking means in the
opening in the bone causes at least a part of the locking means to
engage the graft ligament engagement means so as to urge the graft
ligament engagement means, and hence the portion of the graft
ligament disposed adjacent thereto, toward a wall of the opening in
the bone, whereby to secure the graft ligament to the wall of the
opening.
[0012] In use, an opening is made in the bone, and the graft
ligament and the graft ligament engagement means are inserted into
the opening, with a portion of the graft ligament being disposed
alongside a wall of the graft ligament engagement means. In
accordance with the present invention, the locking means are also
positioned in the opening in the bone, alongside the graft ligament
engagement means, with the locking means being separated from the
graft ligament by a portion of the graft ligament engagement means.
The method further includes moving the locking means in the opening
in the bone so as to cause at least a portion thereof to urge the
graft ligament engagement means, and hence the portion of the graft
ligament disposed adjacent thereto, toward a wall of the opening,
whereby to secure the graft ligament to the wall of the
opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] These and other objects and features of the present
invention will be more fully disclosed or rendered obvious by the
following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the
invention, which are to be considered together with the
accompanying drawings wherein like numbers refer to like parts, and
further wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of one form of graft
ligament anchor made in accordance with the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but shows the graft ligament
anchor components in different operating positions;
[0016] FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1, but shows an alternative
embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view of another form of
graft ligament anchor made in accordance with the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4, but shows the graft ligament
anchor components in different operating positions;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic sectional view of another form of
graft ligament anchor made in accordance with the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic sectional view of still another
form of graft ligament anchor made in accordance with the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic sectional view of yet another form
of graft ligament anchor made in accordance with the present
invention;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one of the components of the
graft ligament anchor shown in FIG. 8;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic sectional view of still another
form of graft ligament anchor made in accordance with the present
invention;
[0024] FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view of still another form of
graft ligament anchor made in accordance with the present
invention;
[0025] FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic sectional view of yet another form
of graft ligament anchor made in accordance with the present
invention;
[0026] FIG. 13 is similar to FIG. 12, but shows the graft ligament
anchor components in different operating conditions;
[0027] FIG. 13A is a diagrammatic sectional view of still another
form of ligament anchor made in accordance with the present
invention;
[0028] FIG. 14 is a top plan view of still another form of graft
ligament anchor made in accordance with the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 15 is a side view, in section, of the graft ligament
anchor shown in FIG. 14;
[0030] FIG. 16 is a side view showing the graft ligament anchor of
FIGS. 14 and 15 securing a graft ligament to a bone;
[0031] FIG. 17 is similar to a portion of FIG. 16, but showing
components of the graft ligament anchor and graft ligament of FIG.
16 in alternative positions;
[0032] FIG. 18 is a top plan view of yet another form of graft
ligament anchor made in accordance with the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 19 is a side view, in section, of the graft ligament
anchor shown in FIG. 18;
[0034] FIG. 20 is a diagrammatic sectional view of still another
form of graft ligament anchor made in accordance with the present
invention;
[0035] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a component of the graft
ligament anchor shown in FIG. 20;
[0036] FIG. 22 is a diagrammatic sectional view of still another
form of graft ligament anchor made in accordance with the present
invention; and
[0037] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of components of the graft
ligament anchor of FIG. 22.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0038] Referring first to FIG. 1, it will be seen that one
illustrative embodiment of the present invention includes a graft
ligament engagement means 20 comprising a deformable sleeve 22,
preferably formed out of metal or plastic, and adapted to be
inserted into an opening 24 formed in a bone B. One or more graft
ligaments 28 are disposed alongside an interior wall 30 of sleeve
22.
[0039] The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 further includes
locking means 32, which may be a pivotally movable rocker arm 34,
which may be provided with a slot 36 for receiving a key member
(not shown) for turning rocker arm 34.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that turning rocker arm
34 enables a portion of the rocker arm to impinge upon an exterior
surface 40 of sleeve 22 so as to force sleeve 22, and hence graft
ligaments 28 contained therein, toward sidewall 38 of opening 24,
whereby to secure sleeve 22 and graft ligaments 28 between opening
sidewall 38 and locking means 32.
[0041] In operation, opening 24 is first made in bone B and then
graft ligaments 28 and graft ligament engagement means 20 are
inserted into opening 24, with graft ligaments 28 being disposed
alongside a first wall, i.e., the interior wall 30, of sleeve 22.
Locking means 32 are inserted into opening 24 alongside the
exterior surface 40 of sleeve 22. Locking means 32 are thus
separated from graft ligaments 28 by graft ligament engagement
means 20, i.e., sleeve 22. As noted above, movement of locking
means 32 causes at least a portion thereof to engage sleeve 22 and
to crimp the sleeve inwardly upon graft ligaments 28, and to push
both sleeve 22 and graft ligaments 28 against sidewall 38 of
opening 24.
[0042] If it is desired to thereafter release graft ligaments 28,
rocker arm 34 may be moved back to the position shown in FIG. 1. To
this end, graft ligament engagement means 20 preferably are formed
out of a resilient material, whereby engagement means 20 can return
to substantially the same position shown in FIG. 1 when locking
means 32 return to the position shown in FIG. 1.
[0043] If desired, substantially all of sleeve 22 can be formed so
as to be deformable; alternatively, some of sleeve 22 can be formed
so as to be rigid. By way of example, the portion of sleeve 22
contacted by locking means 32 can be formed so as to be
substantially rigid.
[0044] Graft ligaments 28 may comprise natural or synthetic graft
ligament material, and the anchor can be used to attach natural or
synthetic graft ligaments and/or tendons to bone. Sleeve 22
preferably is provided with inwardly-extending protrusions 42, such
as spikes 44, for securely retaining graft ligaments 28
therein.
[0045] Locking means 32 may be a rocker arm type, such as the
rocker arm member 34 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or a generally
conically-shaped expansion plug 46, as shown in FIG. 3, with the
expansion plug preferably being threaded such that as the plug is
screwed into place, an increasing diameter of the plug engages
sleeve 22 in a wedge-like manner so as to force the sleeve against
interior wall 38 of opening 24.
[0046] In FIG. 4, there is shown an alternative embodiment in which
graft ligaments 28 are disposed alongside exterior wall 40 of
sleeve 22, and locking means 32 is disposed within sleeve 22. With
this embodiment, locking means 32 operate to engage interior wall
30 of the sleeve (FIG. 5), whereby to force graft ligaments 28
against sidewall 38 of opening 24. Again, locking means 32 may be a
rocker arm type, such as the rocker arm member 34 shown in FIGS. 4
and 5, or may be an expansion plug 46, preferably threaded, of the
sort shown in FIG. 3. With the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,
sleeve 22 may be provided with protrusions 42 (in the form of
spikes 44, for example) on the exterior wall 40 thereof for
engagement with graft ligaments 28. In many instances, it is
beneficial to provide at least two discrete graft ligaments 28 and,
in such cases, it is preferable that the graft ligaments be
disposed on substantially opposite diametric sides of the sleeve,
as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0047] In FIG. 6, there is shown an embodiment similar to that
shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, but provided with an expandable sleeve 22A,
rather than a deformable metal or plastic sleeve 22 as shown in
FIGS. 1-5. Sleeve 22A may be formed out of an elastomeric material,
and it is expanded radially outwardly by engagement with a
centrally disposed locking means 32 (preferably in the form of a
threaded expansion plug 46) so as to force graft ligaments 28
outward into a secured position between sleeve 22A and opening
sidewall 38.
[0048] In operation, the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4-6 function
similarly to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-3 in attaching graft
ligaments 28 to bone B. Opening 24 is first made in bone B. Graft
ligaments 28 and graft ligament engagement means 20 (in the form of
sleeve 22 or sleeve 22A) are inserted into opening 24, with graft
ligaments 28 disposed alongside exterior wall 40 of the graft
ligament engagement means, i.e., alongside the exterior wall 40 of
sleeve 22 or sleeve 22A. Locking means 32 (in the form of a rocker
arm member 34 or a threaded expansion plug 46) are inserted axially
into the sleeve, alongside interior wall 30 of the sleeve. Locking
means 32 are thus separated from the graft ligaments 28 by the
sleeve (22 or 22A). Then locking means 32 are manipulated so as to
engage the sleeve (22 or 22A) and thereby urge the sleeve, and
hence graft ligaments 28, toward opening sidewall 38, whereby to
secure the sleeve and graft ligaments to the wall of the
opening.
[0049] If and when it is desired to adjust tension on graft
ligaments 28, locking means 32 may be backed off, that is, if
locking means 32 comprise the rocker arm type cam member 34, the
arm need only be rotated 90.degree. from the positions shown in
FIGS. 2 and 5, to return to the positions shown, respectively, in
FIGS. 1 and 4; if, on the other hand, locking means 32 comprise
expansion plug 46, the plug need only be unscrewed or otherwise
axially withdrawn so as to release the securing of the graft
ligaments.
[0050] Referring next to FIG. 7, it will be seen that in an
alternative embodiment, graft ligament engagement means 20
comprises plate means 48 which are movable transversely within the
bone opening. As in the embodiments previously described, graft
ligaments 28 are disposed alongside a wall 50 of graft ligament
engagement means 20, which in this instance is a first major
surface of plate means 48. Graft ligament engagement means 20 are
disposed between graft ligaments 28 and locking means 32. Locking
means 32 may be, as in the above-described embodiments, an
expansion plug 46 (as shown in FIG. 7), or locking means 32 may be
a rocker arm type of cam member 34 (of the sort shown in FIGS. 1,
2, 4 and 5). Locking means 32 are adapted to impinge upon a second
major surface 52 of plate means 48. Plate means 48, in the
embodiment shown in FIG. 7, comprises a single plate 54 having, on
first major surface 50 thereof, one or more concavities 56 for
nesting one or more graft ligaments 28, respectively.
[0051] In the attachment of one or more graft ligaments 28 to a
bone B, using the embodiment of FIG. 7, locking means 32 are
manipulated so as to bear against plate 54 so as to move plate 54
into engagement with graft ligaments 28, and thence to further move
plate 54 so as to secure the graft ligaments against sidewall 38 of
opening 24.
[0052] Referring next to FIG. 8, it will be seen that locking means
32 may comprise the threaded expansion plug 46 deployed partly in
opening 24 and threaded partly into bone B, thus serving as a
so-called interference screw. With this arrangement, plug 46 is
thereby (i) in part along its length disposed in opening 24,
protruding into the opening from opening wall 38, and (ii) in part
along its length threadedly engaged with bone B. Screwing in plug
46 causes the plug to engage plate 54 which, in turn, compacts one
or more graft ligaments 28 against wall 38 of opening 24.
[0053] In lieu of, or in addition to, the aforementioned
concavities 56 shown in FIG. 7, plate 54 may be provided with
gripper ribs 58 for engaging graft ligaments 28, as shown in FIGS.
8 and 9.
[0054] In FIG. 10, it is shown that plate means 48 may include
first and second plates 60, 62, each having a wall 50 facing one or
more graft ligaments 28, and a wall 52 facing locking means 32.
Plates 60, 62 may be joined together by a link 64 which may be
molded integrally with plates 60, 62 so as to form a so-called
"living hinge" link. Locking means 32 are depicted in FIG. 10 as a
rocker arm type of cam member 34, but it will be appreciated that
an expansion plug type of locking means (e.g., a plug 46 such as
that shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7) might also be used.
[0055] In operation, rotative movement of rocker arm 34 (or axial
movement of expansion plug 46) causes plates 60, 62 to move
outwardly from each other so as to urge graft ligaments 28 against
wall 38 of opening 24. Walls 50 of plates 60, 62 may be provided
with concavities 56, as shown in FIG. 10, or with ribs 58 of the
sort shown in FIG. 9, or both.
[0056] Referring next to FIG. 11, it will be seen that still
another embodiment of the present invention includes, as graft
ligament engagement means 20, a V-shaped strip 94, preferably made
out of a resilient metal or plastic material. An end portion 96 of
a graft ligament 28 is disposed between first and second leg
portions 98, 100 of V-shaped strip 94, and graft ligament 28
extends alongside an exterior surface 102 of second leg portion
100. Locking means 32 comprise a threaded expansion plug 46
disposed partly in opening 24 and partly in bone B, along sidewall
38 of opening 24, in a manner similar to the disposition of
threaded expansion plug 46 shown in FIG. 8.
[0057] Upon screwing in expansion plug 46, the expansion plug
engages first leg 98 of graft ligament engagement means 20 (i.e.,
the V-shaped strip 94) to force first leg 98 to close upon second
leg 100 with the graft ligament end portion 96 sandwiched
therebetween and, upon further screwing in of threaded expansion
plug 46, to force graft ligament engagement means 20 and graft
ligament 28 against wall 38 of opening 24. To release graft
ligament 28, an operator need only back out expansion plug 46.
[0058] When attaching a graft ligament to a bone with the graft
ligament anchor shown in FIG. 11, an opening is first drilled, or
otherwise made, in the bone. Then the V-shaped strip 94 is inserted
into the opening, with a nose portion 104 thereof pointed inwardly
of the bone. Next, end portion 96 of graft ligament 28 is inserted
between first and second leg portions 98, 100 of V-shaped strip 94.
Threaded expansion plug 46 is then inserted into opening wall 38
such that a first portion 106 of the lengthwise extent of plug 46
is disposed in opening 24, and second portion 108 of the lengthwise
extent of plug 46 is threadedly engaged with bone B. Expansion plug
46 is then screwed further down so as to cause plug 46 to engage
first leg 98 of V-shaped strip 94 so as to secure graft ligament
end portion 96 in V-shaped strip 94, and then screwed down further
to wedge strip 94 and graft ligament 28 against wall 38 of opening
24.
[0059] Still referring to FIG. 11, it is to be appreciated that
bone opening 24 may be formed with a constant diameter throughout
its length or, if desired, may be formed with two different
diameters along its length, in the manner shown in FIG. 11, so as
to form an annular shoulder 110 within the bone opening. The
provision of an annular shoulder 110 can be very helpful in
ensuring that the graft ligament anchor is prevented from migrating
further into bone B, even if graft ligament 28 should thereafter be
subjected to substantial retraction forces.
[0060] In a modification (not shown) of the FIG. 11 embodiment, the
expansion plug 46 may be entered alongside graft ligament 28 and
second leg portion 100 of strip 94. In this modified version, the
expansion plug 46 operates as described above, except that
expansion plug 46 engages graft ligament 28 and forces strip first
leg 98 against wall 38 of opening 24.
[0061] Looking next at FIGS. 12 and 13, yet another form of graft
ligament anchor is disclosed. This graft ligament anchor is similar
to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, except that the expandable
sleeve 22B is in the form of a cylindrical coil. Sleeve 22B is
formed out of an elastomeric material and is expanded radially
outwardly by engagement with a centrally disposed locking means 32
(preferably an axially-movable threaded expansion plug 46) so as to
force graft ligament 28 outward into a secured position between
sleeve 22B and bone B.
[0062] In FIG. 13A there is shown an embodiment similar to that
shown in FIG. 10, but in which the first and second plates 60, 62
are discrete plates and not connected to each other. With this
arrangement, locking means 32 is inserted into a central recess 74
defined by plate walls 52, and may comprise either an expansion
plug 46 of the type shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 or a rocker arm type of
cam member 34 of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0063] Looking next at FIGS. 14 and 15, another graft ligament
anchor 200 is shown. Anchor 200 includes graft ligament engagement
means 20 comprising a flat plate 201, a pair of through-holes 202,
204 and a threaded through-hole 206. In use, and looking now at
FIGS. 14, 15 and 16, the free end 96 of graft ligament 28 is passed
downward through hole 202 and then back upward again through hole
204, and then a screw 208 is used to secure anchor 200 to the wall
210 of the bone opening by threading the shank of screw 208 through
hole 206, through graft ligament 28, and into bone B. This will
cause screw 208 and plate 201 to securely attach graft ligament 28
to bone B.
[0064] As shown in FIG. 17, alternatively, graft ligament 28 may be
passed upwardly through hole 202 and downwardly through hole 204.
Screw 208 is then threaded through hole 206 and graft ligament 28
and into bone B. Thus, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 16, screw
208 and plate 201 secure graft ligament 28 to bone B.
[0065] FIGS. 18 and 19 show another graft ligament anchor 200A.
Graft ligament anchor 200A is similar to graft ligament anchor 200,
except that it includes a plurality of spikes 212 for projecting
into wall 210 (FIG. 16) of bone B when the graft ligament anchor is
deployed against the bone. Also, graft ligament anchor 200A has an
enlarged configuration 214 in the region of through-hole 206A, as
shown in FIG. 18.
[0066] Referring next to FIG. 20, there is shown a still further
alternative embodiment of graft ligament anchor, similar to that
shown in FIG. 7, wherein graft ligament engagement means 20
comprises plate means 48 formed in a U-shaped configuration (FIG.
21) movable transversely within bone opening 24. At least one graft
ligament 28 is disposed alongside wall 50 of graft ligament
engagement means 20, which in this instance is a first major
surface of plate means 48. Graft ligament engagement means 20 is
disposed between graft ligament 28 and locking means 32. Locking
means 32 may be an expansion plug 46, as shown in FIG. 20 and in
FIG. 7, or a rocker arm type cam member 34, as shown in FIG. 1, or
an interference screw type expansion plug 46, as shown in FIG. 11,
or a transverse screw 208, as shown in FIG. 16.
[0067] In attachment of one or more graft ligaments 28 to a bone B,
using the embodiment of FIG. 20, locking means 32 is manipulated so
as to bear against a second major surface 52 of plate means 48 and
thereby move plate means 48 into engagement with graft ligament 28,
and thence to drive free ends 49 of plate means 48 into sidewall 38
of opening 24 so as to fasten graft ligament 28 to sidewall 38 and,
thereby, to bone B.
[0068] Referring to FIGS. 22 and 23, there is shown still another
alternative embodiment of graft ligament anchor including a tubular
member 300, open at first and second ends 302, 304 and having an
opening 306 in the sidewall thereof. Otherwise, the graft ligament
anchor of FIG. 22 is similar to the graft ligament anchor of FIG.
20, described hereinabove.
[0069] In attachment of one or more graft ligaments 28 to a bone,
using the embodiment of FIGS. 22 and 23, locking means 32 are
manipulated to bear against second major surface 52 of plate means
48 so as to move plate means 48 through tubular member opening 306
and into engagement with graft ligament 28, and thence further to
drive free ends 49 of plate means 48 into sidewall 38 of opening
24, whereby to fasten tubular member 300 and graft ligament 28 to
sidewall 38 and, thereby, to bone B. In this embodiment, and in the
embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-3, an operator may fasten the graft
ligament to the bone without the graft ligament contacting the
bone. The tubular member 300 preferably is of a plastic or metallic
material and the plate means 48 is of a plastic or metallic
material. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 20 and 22, the plate
means 48 may be provided with interior teeth 47 for gripping graft
ligament 28.
[0070] It is to be understood that the present invention is by no
means limited to the particular constructions and methods herein
disclosed and/or shown in the drawings, but also comprises any
modifications or equivalents within the scope of the claims.
* * * * *