IMPLANT AND USE THEREOF

Abstract

The invention relates to an implant for securing a flexible piece to bone. The implant comprises a first part and a second part, a distal end that is to be inserted first in a hole in the bone, and a proximal end that is at the opposite end of the implant in relation to the distal end. The first part comprises securing means for securing the implant to said hole. The second part comprises a groove that receives the flexible piece to be secured by means of the implant. The second part is arranged to be mobile in relation to the first part in the direction of the longitudinal centre line of the implant. The contact surfaces between the first and the second parts comprise wedging surfaces such that as the second part is shifted towards the proximal end of the implant, said securing means move away from said centre line.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following some embodiments of the invention are described in greater detail with reference to the attached drawings, in which

FIG. 1 a is a schematic perspective view of an implant according to the invention arranged in a drill hole in the bone,

FIG. 1 b is a perspective view of the implant parts of FIG. 1a, with the parts detached from one another,

FIG. 2 a is a schematic side view of the implant of FIG. 1a when mounted,

FIG. 2 b is a schematic side view of the implant of FIG. 2a when secured in the drill hole,

FIG. 2 c is a cross-sectional view of the implant of FIG. 2a in plane A-A,

FIG. 3 a is a schematic perspective view of a second implant according to the invention arranged in a drill hole in the bone,

FIG. 3 b is a perspective view of the implant parts of FIG. 3a, with the parts detached from one another,

FIG. 4 a is a schematic side view of the implant of FIG. 3a when mounted,

FIG. 4 b is a schematic lateral section of the implant of FIG. 3a when secured in the drill hole,

FIG. 4 c is a schematic cross-sectional view of the implant of FIG. 4a in plane A-A,

FIG. 5 a is a schematic lateral section of a third implant according to the invention when mounted, and

FIG. 5 b is a perspective view of the implant parts of FIG. 5a with the parts detached from one another.

Claims

1. An implant for securing a flexible piece to bone, the implant comprising: a first part and a second part,a distal end intended for being inserted first in a hole in the bone anda proximal end at the opposite end of the implant in relation to the distal end, whereinthe first part comprises an outer surface including securing means for securing the implant in said hole, andthe second part comprises an outer surface, in which there is provided a groove to receive a flexible piece to be secured by means of the implant,the second part being arranged movable in relation to the first part in the direction of the longitudinal centre line of the implant, and thatthe contact surfaces between the first and the second parts comprise wedging surfaces such thaton shifting the second part in the direction of the proximal end of the implant said securing means move away from said centre line.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein the first part comprises two, spaced apart branches which are interconnected with a connecting piece at the distal end of the implant, and thatthe second part is arranged between the branches such that the branches the connecting piece and the second part form a transverse opening of the implant, through which opening said flexible piece is to be fitted and thatsaid groove forms part of the inner surface of the opening.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein the first part comprises two, spaced apart branches which are interconnected with a connecting piece at the proximal end of the implant such that the branches may be bent in relation to the centre line of the implant and thatthe second part is arranged between the branches such that said groove is arranged away from the proximal end and it forms part of the outer surface of the implant.

4. The implant of claim 1, wherein said securing means are projections.

5. The implant of claim 4, wherein the projections are ridges arranged at an angle to the longitudinal centre line.

6. The implant of claim 4, wherein the projections have an asymmetrical cross section such that the angle between the surface of the projection and the longitudinal centre line is more abrupt on the proximal end side.

7. The implant of claim 1, wherein the connecting piece is flexible to allow adjustment of the distance between the branches.

8. The implant of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the branches forms a space between the branches that tapers in the direction of the proximal end.

9. The implant of claim 1, wherein the groove continues on the sides of the second part.

10. The implant of claim 1, wherein the groove forms a saddle surface.

11. The implant of claim 2, wherein at least one branch comprises a longitudinal sliding surface, and correspondingly, the second part comprises a longitudinal surface on which the sliding surface slides as the second part is shifted in the direction of the proximal end of the implant.

12. The implant of claim 11, wherein said branch comprises at least two sliding surfaces that are arranged at an angle to one another.

13. The implant of claim 11, wherein the sliding surface is arranged in the branch.

14. The implant of claim 11, wherein the sliding surface is arranged in the second part.

15. The implant of claim 11, wherein the sliding surface comprises a locking means, which is arranged to lock the second part in relation to the first part.

16. The implant of claim 1, wherein in one part there is a shoulder and in another part there is a shoulder counter surface arranged such that as the shoulder comes into contact with the shoulder counter surface the motion between the first and the second parts stops in the hole.

17. The implant of claim 1, being made at least in part of biodegradable material.

18. The implant of claim 1, being made at least in part of biostable material.

19. The implant of claim 1, wherein the implant comprises a guiding hole which is parallel with the longitudinal centre line and which extends to both the first and the second parts.

20. The implant of claim 19, wherein the cross section of the guiding hole is round.

21. The implant of claim 19, wherein the cross section of the guiding hole is non-round such that the implant may be rotated about the longitudinal centre line with an instrument fitted in the guiding hole.

22. The implant of claim 1, wherein it comprises counterparts for the instrument and that the implant may be rotated in the hole about its longitudinal centre line with the instrument fitted in the counterparts.

23. A method for securing a flexible piece to the bone, wherein the implant of claim 1 is inserted in a hole in the bone.

24. A method for ACL or PCL operations, wherein the implant of claim 1 is inserted in a hole in the bone.

25. A method for a double-bundle reconstruction, wherein the implant of claim 1 is inserted in a hole in the bone.