Claims
- 1. An interference screw, comprising:
a body; a plurality of threads formed on the body; and a suture extending from a leading tip of the body.
- 2. The interference screw of claim 1, wherein the suture is insert-molded into the body.
- 3. The interference screw of claim 1, wherein the screw further comprises a cannulation having a shape for receiving a correspondingly shaped tip of a driver, said cannulation extending partially through the screw from the leading tip of the screw.
- 4. The interference screw of claim 1, wherein the screw is formed of a bioabsorbable material.
- 5. A method of endosteal fixation comprising the steps of:
passing a length of a suture extending from an interference screw through the bone tunnel; positioning a ligament graft in a bone tunnel; drawing on the strand to position the screw for retrograde insertion of the screw into the bone tunnel.
- 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the suture is insert-molded into the interference screw.
- 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the interference screw is partially cannulated, and the retrograde insertion of the interference screw further comprises the step of inserting an interference screw driver into the cannulation of the interference screw, and rotating the screwdriver to turn the interference screw into the bone tunnel.
- 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the driver is cannulated and the suture extending from the interference screw is inserted through the cannulation of the driver.
- 9. A method of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, the method comprising the steps of:
forming a tibial tunnel between an anterior tibial surface and the tibial plateau; feeding a length of suture extending from a leading tip of an interference screw into the joint cavity and down through the tibial tunnel by way of the opening in the tibial plateau; placing a ligament graft in the tibial tunnel; drawing on the free end of strand exiting the anterior surface of the tibial tunnel to pull the interference screw into the joint cavity into axial alignment with the tunnel; using a driver to engage a cannulation extending into the interference screw from the leading tip of the screw; and screwing the interference screw into the tunnel by turning the driver.
- 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the suture is insert-molded into the interference screw.
- 11. A method of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, the method comprising the steps of:
forming a femoral socket in a femur; feeding a length of suture extending from a leading tip of an interference screw into the joint cavity and through a tunnel extending from the socket to the exterior of the femur, the suture being insert-molded into the interference screw; placing a ligament graft in the femoral socket; drawing on the free end of the suture to pull the interference screw into the joint cavity into axial alignment with the socket; using a driver to engage a cannulation extending into the interference screw; and screwing the interference screw into the socket by turning the driver
- 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the cannulation extends into a back end of the interference screw, and the interference screw is screwed forwardly into the socket.
- 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the cannulation extends into the leading tip of the interference screw, and the interference screw is screwed in retrograde fashion into the socket.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/256,076, filed Sep. 27, 2002, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/864,258, filed May 25, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,461,373, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/207,235, filed May 26, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60207235 |
May 2000 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10256076 |
Sep 2002 |
US |
Child |
10358192 |
Feb 2003 |
US |
Parent |
09864258 |
May 2001 |
US |
Child |
10256076 |
Sep 2002 |
US |