Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
A prosthetic ligament for implantation so as to extend between and to be anchored to two bones by means of a cylindrical bone plug at each bone, said ligament comprising an elongate, flexible element, one end of which includes a pouch portion capable of receiving a cylindrical bone plug, the pouch portion having a longitudinal slit through which the bone plug may be passed to be accommodated within said pouch portion and an end closure whereby longitudinal movement of the bone plug out of the ligament is prevented, said ligament having perforations the size and distribution of which are substantially uniform along the length of the ligament at least from and including said pouch to the other end of said ligament, the size of the perforations being such that ingrowth of both bone tissue and soft connective tissue is promoted where the ligament is anchored to bone by the bone plug, and ingrowth of soft connective tissue is promoted where the ligament extends between said bones, with the result that, after implantations, the ligament is subject to substantially continuous connective tissue ingrowth from and including one bone anchoring position to the other, thereby strengthening the ligament and its anchoring to each bone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
A prosthetic ligament for implantation so as to extend between and to be anchored to two bones by means of a cylindrical bone plug at each bone, said ligament comprising an elongate, flexible element, one end of which includes a pouch portion capable of receiving a cylindrical bone plug, the pouch portion having a longitudinal slit through which the bone plug may be passed to be accommodated within said pouch portion and an end closure whereby longitudinal movement of the bone plug out of the ligament is prevented, said ligament having perforations the size and distribution of which are substantially uniform along the length of the ligament at least from and including said pouch to the other end of said ligament, the size of the perforations being such that ingrowth of both bone tissue and soft connective tissue is promoted where the ligament is anchored to bone by the bone plug, and ingrowth of soft connective tissue is promoted where the ligament extends between said bones, with the result that, after implantations, the ligament is subject to substantially continuous connective tissue ingrowth from and including one bone anchoring position to the other, thereby strengthening the ligament and its anchoring to each bone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A prosthetic ligament in accordance with claim 1, wherein the ligament includes a coreless, tubular portion extending from said pouch portion in a direction towards said other end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A prosthetic ligament in accordance with claim 2, wherein the ligament, between said tubular portion and said other end, is in the form of a non-tubular strip of substantially uniform width.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A prosthetic ligament in accordance with claim 1, wherein said ligament comprises a polyester fabric with an open weave structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A prosthetic ligament in accordance with claim 4, wherein said polyester is one of polyethylene terephthalate and a copolymer thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A prosthetic ligament in accordance with claim 4, wherein the weave of said fabric is one of mock leno and leno woven whereby said fabric includes weft threads and warp threads locked with respect to each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A prosthetic ligament in accordance with claim 1, wherein said perforations have an area of at least 0.01 cm 2 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A prosthetic ligament in accordance with claim 7, wherein said distribution of said perforations is in the range 10 to 40 perforations per cm 2 .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A prosthetic ligament in accordance with claim 8, wherein said distribution of said perforations is in the range 15 to 25 perforations per cm 2 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A prosthetic ligament in accordance with claim 7, wherein the size of said perforations is in the range 0.01 to 0.02 cm 2 .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
A prosthetic ligament in accordance with claim 1, wherein the said one end portion includes a terminal portion extending from said end closure and having attached thereto means whereby the ligament may be pulled, said terminal portion including a length of ligament between the point of attachment of said pulling means and said end closure, said terminal portion having perforations the size and distribution of which are substantially the same as the body of the ligament.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A prosthetic ligament in accordance with claim 11, wherein said means comprises a cord attached to said one end of said ligament.