Claims
- 1. A graft retaining system for retaining a graft in a bone tunnel comprising:
a graft block having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said block being sized to fit within said bone tunnel; an intermediate connector connecting a predetermined portion of said graft and a predetermined portion of said graft block; and means for attaching said graft block adjacent said bone tunnel at a predetermined point along the length of said tunnel, said means for attaching being situated transverse to the axis of said bone tunnel.
- 2. The graft retaining system of claim 1 wherein said predetermined portion of said graft block is situated distal to said means for attaching said graft block such that a tensile load applied to said graft tends to compressively load said predetermined portion of said graft block between said intermediate connector and said means for attaching.
- 3. The graft retaining system of claim 1 wherein a portion of said graft block is molded around a portion of said intermediate connector to connect said intermediate connector to said graft block.
- 4. The graft retaining system of claim 1 further comprising means for shielding said intermediate connector from abrasion against said bone tunnel.
- 5. The graft retaining system of claim 4 wherein said means for shielding comprises diametrically opposed longitudinal channels through said graft block, said intermediate connector being looped through said channels.
- 6. The graft retaining system of claim 1 wherein said predetermined portion of said graft block comprises a channel for receiving said intermediate connector.
- 7. The graft retaining system of claim 1 wherein said intermediate connector comprises a member looped around a portion of said graft block and extending beyond said proximal end of said graft block to receive said graft.
- 8. The graft retaining system of claim 1 wherein said intermediate connector comprises a loop of flexible material.
- 9. The graft retaining system of claim 8 wherein said loop comprises at least one strand of flexible material looped a plurality of times around said predetermined portion of said graft block.
- 10. The graft retaining system of claim 8 wherein said loop comprises at least one continuous loop.
- 11. The graft retaining system of claim 8 wherein said loop is formed by at least one process selected from the group consisting of tying, bonding, and forming from a single continuous sheet.
- 12. The graft retaining system of claim 8 wherein said loop comprises a plurality of filaments.
- 13. The graft retaining system of claim 12 wherein said filaments are combined by at least one process selected from the group consisting of twisting, braiding, weaving, knitting, and bonding.
- 14. The graft retaining system of claim 1 wherein said intermediate connector comprises at least one structural element selected from the group consisting of cords, tapes, fabrics, and films.
- 15. The graft retaining system of claim 1 wherein said intermediate connector comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of metals, non-resorbable polymers, and resorbable polymers.
- 16. The graft retaining system of claim 1 wherein said intermediate connector comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of stainless steels, titanium, titanium alloys, cobalt-chrome allows, polyethylenes, polyesters, polytetrafluroethylene, silicone polymers, and polylactic acid.
- 17. The graft retaining system of claim 1 wherein said intermediate connector comprises high strength polyethylene fiber.
- 18. The graft retaining system of claim 1 further comprising means for passing said graft block longitudinally along said bone tunnel.
- 19. The graft retaining system of claim 18 wherein said means for passing comprises an opening through said graft block and a passing suture threadable through said opening.
- 20. The graft retaining system of claim 18 wherein said means for passing comprises a shaft engageable with said graft block.
- 21. The graft retaining system of claim 20 wherein said shaft engages said graft block in torque transmitting relationship so that said shaft can be turned to align said second means for attaching.
- 22. The graft retaining system of claim 1 further comprising means for aligning said means for attaching.
- 23. The graft retaining system of claim 22 wherein said means for attaching comprises a transverse hole formed through said graft block and a transverse member received in said transverse hole and extending into bone adjacent said graft block, further wherein said means for aligning comprises a tapered end formed on said transverse member and a chamfer leading into said transverse hole such that insertion of said transverse member into said chamfer tends to turn said graft block to align said transverse hole with said transverse member.
- 24. The graft retaining system of claim 23 wherein said transverse member comprises a shoulder matingly engageable with said chamfer.
- 25. The graft retaining system of claim 22 wherein said means for aligning comprises a projection extending transversely from said graft block and a slot formed in said tunnel for receiving said projection.
- 26. The graft retaining system of claim 1 wherein said means for attaching comprises a transverse hole formed through said graft block and a transverse member received in said transverse hole and extending into bone adjacent said graft block.
- 27. The graft retaining system of claim 26 wherein said transverse member comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of pins, screw, bolts, and staples.
- 28. The graft retaining system of claim 26 wherein said transverse member comprises at least one anchoring element selected from the group consisting of ribs, teeth, barbs, threads, and expanding anchors.
- 29. The graft retaining system of claim 26 wherein said transverse member comprises a pin having a distal end and a threaded proximal end, said distal end being engageable with said transverse hole and said proximal end being engageable with bone adjacent said bone tunnel.
- 30. The graft retaining system of claim 26 wherein said transverse member further comprises a longitudinal cannula.
- 31. The graft retaining system of claim 26 wherein said distal portion of said transverse member comprises a non-cylindrical cross section and said aperture through said graft block has a corresponding non-cylindrical cross section.
- 32. The graft retaining system of claim 26 wherein said transverse member comprises a portion with a non-cylindrical cross section and said transverse hole has a corresponding non-cylindrical cross section.
- 33. The graft retaining system of claim 1 wherein said means for attaching comprises an aperture through said graft block and a cross-pin including:
a distal portion having an axis, a distal end and a proximal end; a proximal cylindrical portion having an axis, a distal end and a proximal end, aligned with said distal portion, said proximal portion comprising a threaded exterior surface and a driving means; a junction interposed between said distal and proximal portions, said junction adapted to enable said proximal portion to rotate about its axis relative to said distal portion to thereby move said proximal portion rotationally and distally while pushing said distal portion distally.
- 34. A graft retaining system for retaining a graft in a bone tunnel comprising:
a graft block having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said block being sized to fit within said bone tunnel; tunnel attachment means for attaching said graft block adjacent said bone tunnel at a predetermined point along the length of said tunnel, said tunnel attachment means being situated transverse to the axis of said bone tunnel, said tunnel attachment means being located proximally of said distal end of said graft block; and graft attachment means for connecting said graft to said graft block at a position distal to said tunnel attachment means such that tensile forces on said graft result in compressive forces on said graft block between said graft attachment means and said tunnel attachment means.
- 35. The graft retaining system of claim 34 wherein said graft block comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of metals, ceramics, non-resorbable polymers, resorbable polymers, non-resorbable ceramics, and resorbable ceramics.
- 36. The graft retaining system of claim 34 wherein said graft block comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of stainless steels, titanium, titanium alloys, cobalt-chrome alloys, polyolefins, polyesters, polyimides, polyamides, polyacrylates, poly(ketones), fluropolymers, siloxane based polymers, lactide polymers, glycolide polymers, polyanhydrides, and poly(aminoacid) polymers.
- 37. The graft retaining system of claim 34 wherein said graft block comprises a resorbable material.
- 38. The graft retaining system of claim 34 wherein said tunnel attachment means comprises a transverse opening formed through said graft block and a transverse member engaging said transverse opening and said bone tunnel, said graft attachment means comprising a portion of said graft attached to said graft block distal of said transverse opening.
- 39. The graft retaining system of claim 34 wherein said tunnel attachment means comprises a transverse opening formed through said graft block and a transverse member engaging said transverse opening and said bone tunnel, said graft attachment means comprising a portion of said graft looped around a portion of said graft block distal of said transverse opening.
- 40. The graft retaining system of claim 34 wherein said tunnel attachment means comprises a transverse opening formed through said graft block and a transverse member engaging said transverse opening and said bone tunnel, and said graft attachment means comprises an intermediate connector attached to a portion of said graft and attached to a portion of said graft block distal of said transverse opening.
- 41. A graft retaining system for retaining a graft in a bone tunnel comprising:
a graft block having a core, a loop shaped intermediate connector supported on said core, and a cover matingly engageable with said core to cover a portion of said core and said intermediate connector to retain said intermediate connector on said core, and a transverse opening formed through said core and said loop of said intermediate connector such that said intermediate connector loops around said transverse opening; a portion of said intermediate connector extending below said core and said cover to form a graft receiving opening; and a cross-pin engageable with said transverse opening to attach said graft block in said bone tunnel.
- 42. A graft retaining system for retaining a graft in a bone tunnel comprising:
a graft block having a generally cylindrical body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said block being sized to fit within said bone tunnel; a transverse pin engageable with said graft block to attach said graft block within said bone tunnel at a predetermined point along said length of said tunnel; and a flexible loop adapted to engage both said graft block and said graft.
- 43. A graft retaining system for retaining a graft in a bone tunnel comprising:
a graft block having a generally cylindrical body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said block being sized to fit within said bone tunnel; a transverse pin engageable with said graft block at a predetermined engagement portion on said graft block to attach said graft block within said bone tunnel at a predetermined point along said length of said tunnel; and at least one channel formed on said graft block distal of said predetermined engagement portion for receiving a portion of said graft such that tensile loading of said graft results in compressive loading of said graft block between said predetermined engagement portion and said transverse pin.
- 44. A graft retaining system for retaining a graft in a bone tunnel comprising:
a graft block having a generally cylindrical body having a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, and a pair of opposed longitudinal side surfaces, said block being sized to fit within said bone tunnel; a transverse pin engageable with said graft block at a predetermined engagement portion on said graft block to attach said graft block within said bone tunnel at a predetermined point along said length of said tunnel; a flexible loop adapted to engage both said graft block and said graft; and at least one channel formed on said graft block distal of said predetermined engagement portion for receiving a portion of said flexible loop such that tensile loading of said graft results in compressive loading of said graft block between said predetermined engagement portion and said transverse pin.
- 45. The graft retaining system of claim 44 wherein said at least one channel comprises a pair of opposed and parallel channels extending within said body from said proximal end to said distal end, parallel to said side surfaces and on diametrically opposed sides of said pin receiving aperture, said channels adapted to receive therethrough said flexible loop.
- 46. The graft retaining system of claim 44 wherein said at least one channel comprises an enclosed U-shaped channel extending along said side surfaces and around said distal end.
- 47. The graft retaining system of claim 44 further comprising a longitudinally aligned projection extending from one of said side surfaces.
- 48. The graft retaining system of claim 44 wherein said generally cylindrical body further comprises a pair of opposed and parallel planar face surfaces extending between said proximal and distal ends, said pair of opposed side surfaces joining said planar face surfaces and extending between said proximal and distal ends; wherein said pin is receivable in an aperture extending transversely through said body between said planar face surfaces.
- 49. The graft retaining system of claim 48 wherein said side surfaces are symmetrical and partially cylindrical, each side surface being curved about an axis parallel to said planar surfaces and extending between said proximal and distal ends.
- 50. The graft retaining system of claim 44 further comprising a suture receiving aperture extending from a first end to a second end transversely through said body parallel and distal to said pin receiving aperture.
- 51. The graft retaining system of claim 50 wherein the graft block further comprises suture relieving planar faces extending distally from a position adjacent each of the first and second ends of said suture receiving aperture.
- 52. The graft retaining system of claim 50 wherein the graft block further comprises suture relief channels extending distally from a position adjacent each of the first and second ends of said suture receiving aperture.
- 53. The graft retaining system of claim 44 wherein said transverse pin is able to be advanced into and secured in bone transversely to said bone tunnel, said transverse pin comprising:
an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, said body comprising a pointed tip at said distal end and an axially aligned non-circular drive recess at said proximal end, said body further comprising:
a first radially outwardly tapered section extending proximally from said distal tip; a first cylindrical section extending proximally from said first tapered section; a second radially outwardly tapered section extending proximally from said first cylindrical section; a second cylindrical section extending proximally from said second tapered section to said proximal end; and attachment means situated on said second cylindrical section for securing said pin in said bone.
- 54. A cross-pin comprising:
a distal portion having an axis, a distal end and a proximal end; a proximal cylindrical portion having an axis, a distal end and a proximal end, aligned with said distal portion, said proximal portion comprising a threaded exterior surface and a driving means; a junction interposed between said distal and proximal portions, said junction adapted to enable said proximal portion to rotate about its axis relative to said distal portion to thereby move said proximal portion rotationally and distally while pushing said distal portion distally.
- 55. A method for securing a graft in a bone tunnel comprising the steps of:
providing a graft block having a body and an intermediate connector attached to and extending from said body; attaching a graft to said graft block by connecting it to said intermediate connector; providing a transverse member for being received by said graft block; fitting said graft block with attached graft into said bone tunnel; and engaging said transverse member with said graft block transversely across said bone tunnel to fix the location of said graft block within said bone tunnel.
- 56. The method of claim 55 wherein said graft block body has a proximal end, a distal end, and a transverse aperture in said body between said proximal and distal ends for receiving said transverse member, said intermediate connector being attached to said graft block distal to said transverse aperture so that tensile loading of the graft results in compressive loading of the portion of the graft block between the intermediate connector attachment and the transverse aperture.
- 57. The method of claim 55 further comprising the steps of:
forming a groove in the sidewall of said bone tunnel at a desired circumferential position; providing a radial projection on said graft block; inserting said projection into said groove to align said graft block with said transverse member as said graft block is inserted into the bone tunnel.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/380,376, filed May 15, 2002.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60380376 |
May 2002 |
US |