Synthetic ligament for the knee

Claim 1

A biocompatible synthetic ligament replacement of natural ligaments at the intra-articular area between femoral and tibial bones of a knee joint, including an elongated element terminating at opposite first and second ends, each element comprising: first inactive end ties configured to be inserted into first tunnels bored in the femur; second inactive end ties configured to be inserted into second tunnels bored in the tibia, wherein said first ties are attached to the femur and extend therefrom to the intra-articular area through said first tunnels, and said second ties are attached to the tibia and extend therefrom to the intra-articular area through said second tunnels; and an active midportion intermediate said ends to be positioned in the intra-articular area of the knee joint, comprising: (a) first and second substantially parallel principal elements integral at one end to said first ties and at an opposite end to said seconds ties, said principal elements having means for integral connection to each other; and (b) a pair of intermediate crossed elements which are freely crossed so as to integrally connect said first principal element to said second principal element, respectively, thereby distributing a load on one of said principal elements at one end thereof to both of said principal elements at the other end thereof.