Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A prosthetic ligament which comprises a flexible elongate body (1) adapted for implantation between at least two bones (5,6), characterised by pulling means (3a) attached to one end of the body (1) for threading and for pulling the ligament through channels formed in the bones, and a detachable sheath (2) of flexible material extending substantially along the whole of the length of the body of the ligament, said sheath being attached initially to the ligament for joint movement with the ligament through the channels in the bones and thereafter being detachable from the ligament to allow the sheath to be removed immediately after implantation of the ligament.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
A prosthetic ligament which comprises a flexible elongate body (1) adapted for implantation between at least two bones (5,6), characterised by pulling means (3a) attached to one end of the body (1) for threading and for pulling the ligament through channels formed in the bones, and a detachable sheath (2) of flexible material extending substantially along the whole of the length of the body of the ligament, said sheath being attached initially to the ligament for joint movement with the ligament through the channels in the bones and thereafter being detachable from the ligament to allow the sheath to be removed immediately after implantation of the ligament.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A prosthetic ligament according to Claim 1, characterised in that the pulling means comprises a cord (3a).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A prosthetic ligament according to Claim 2, characterised in that the sheath (2) extends beyond the point of attachment of the cord (3a) to the ligament body (1).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A prosthetic ligament according to Claim 2, characterised in that the cord (3a) is knotted in a first knot (4) within the sheath.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A prosthetic ligament according to Claim 4, characterised in that the cord (3a) is connected to the sheath (2) by means of a second knot (3), said second knot being located further away from the point of attachment of the cord to the ligament body than the first knot.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A prosthetic ligament according to Claim 1, characterised in that the sheath (2) extends beyond an end of the ligament remote from the pulling means (3a), to provide a grip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A prosthetic ligament according to Claim 1, characterised in that the sheath (2) is in the form of a tube, or consists of a plurality of separate pieces of material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A prosthetic ligament according to Claim 1, characterised in that the sheath is made from polyethylene.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of implanting a prosthetic ligament (1) between at least two bones (5,6), the method being characterised by surrounding the ligament (1) prior to implantation with a sheath (2) of flexible material extending substantially along the whole of the length of the body of the ligament, securing the sheath (2) to the ligament (1) at one end thereof to prevent relative movement between the sheath and the ligament, forming channels in each of the bones (5,6), threading and subsequently pulling the sheathed ligament through the channels, cutting the sheath at a position adjacent the point of attachment (4) of the threading means (3a) to the ligament body so that the sheath (2) is free to slide relative to the ligament, withdrawing the sheath from the ligament and then replacing the bone plugs.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of implanting a prosthetic ligament (1) between at least two bones (5,6), the method being characterised by surrounding the ligament (1) prior to implantation with a sheath (2) of flexible material extending substantially along the whole of the length of the body of the ligament, securing the sheath (2) to the ligament (1) at one end thereof to prevent relative movement between the sheath and the ligament, forming channels in each of the bones (5,6), threading and subsequently pulling the sheathed ligament through the channels, cutting the sheath at a position adjacent the point of attachment (4) of the threading means (3a) to the ligament body so that the sheath (2) is free to slide relative to the ligament, withdrawing the sheath from the ligament and then replacing the bone plugs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
129 words
A bone plug introducer for use in the implantation of a ligament, said bone plug introducer comprising a hollow cylindrical body (8) having at least one open end and an opening in one side for allowing the insertion of a bone plug, the inside diameter of the hollow cylindrical body being slightly larger than the diameter of the bone plug to allow free sliding movement of the plug within the body, a plunger (12) located within the body (8) and arranged for sliding movement therein between a first retracted position and a second extended position, the plunger being arranged so that a bone plug previously placed within the body may be pushed out of the open end thereof by moving the plunger from said first to said second position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
129 words
A bone plug introducer for use in the implantation of a ligament, said bone plug introducer comprising a hollow cylindrical body (8) having at least one open end and an opening in one side for allowing the insertion of a bone plug, the inside diameter of the hollow cylindrical body being slightly larger than the diameter of the bone plug to allow free sliding movement of the plug within the body, a plunger (12) located within the body (8) and arranged for sliding movement therein between a first retracted position and a second extended position, the plunger being arranged so that a bone plug previously placed within the body may be pushed out of the open end thereof by moving the plunger from said first to said second position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A bone plug introducer according to Claim 10, which comprises a first thin walled section (9) adjacent to the open end and a second thick walled section (10) adjacent to the other end.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A bone plug introducer according to Claim 11, in which the opening in the side is located between the thick and thin walled sections.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
A bone plug introducer according to Claim 11, in which the thick walled section has on its internal surface a threaded portion for engagement with a corresponding threaded portion on the plunger to hold the plunger secure within the body in its second extended position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A bone plug introducer according to Claim 10, which is made of metal, or of plastics material.