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US5108431A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Ligament anchor

Assignee: Protek AG
•
Filing: 1991-07-01
•
Granted: 1992-04-28
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Expires: 2011-07-01
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Abstract

Abstract The ligament anchor is used for fastening an artificial ligament in a bone. The ligament anchor is formed of a clamp sleeve which tapers on the outside and is deformable radially to a smaller inner diameter. The clamp sleeve has projecting saw tooth segments on the inside with steep flanks against the direction of loading for engaging in the inserted ligament. The clamp sleeve is supported by an anchoring sleeve which tapers internally and is inserted in the opening of the bone. For anchoring, the ligament is pulled outwards under pressure against the direction of loading and the clamp sleeve is pressed into the anchoring sleeve in the direction of loading until the saw tooth elements embrace and hold the ligament such that under the built-up pressure and the ligament tension in the direction of loading, self locking of the sleeves take place.

Inventors

  • 👤 Christian Mansat
  • 👤 Otto Frey
  • 👤 Roland Willi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 15:50
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/08; A61F2/0811; A61F2002/0817; A61F2002/0823; A61F2002/0835; A61F2002/0847; A61F2002/0864; A61F2002/0876; A61F2002/0882; A61F2/30; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30594

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 123 words
A ligament anchor for fastening an artificial ligament in a bone, said anchor comprising an anchoring sleeve for insertion in a bone opening, said sleeve having a conical inner surface defining a bore extending therethrough; and a radially deformable clamp sleeve for insertion within said bore of said anchoring sleeve, said clamp sleeve having a conical outer surface for frictionally engaging with said conical inner surface of said anchoring sleeve and an inner surface having a plurality of inwardly facing saw tooth segments for engaging with a ligament passing through said clamp sleeve, each said segment having a plurality of teeth for engaging in a received ligament with each tooth having a steep flank directed towards an enlarged end of said clamp sleeve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 123 words
A ligament anchor for fastening an artificial ligament in a bone, said anchor comprising an anchoring sleeve for insertion in a bone opening, said sleeve having a conical inner surface defining a bore extending therethrough; and a radially deformable clamp sleeve for insertion within said bore of said anchoring sleeve, said clamp sleeve having a conical outer surface for frictionally engaging with said conical inner surface of said anchoring sleeve and an inner surface having a plurality of inwardly facing saw tooth segments for engaging with a ligament passing through said clamp sleeve, each said segment having a plurality of teeth for engaging in a received ligament with each tooth having a steep flank directed towards an enlarged end of said clamp sleeve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 28 words
A ligament anchor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said segments are circumferentially spaced about said clamp sleeve and said teeth define segments of an internal screwthread.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 39 words
A ligament anchor as set forth in claim 1 where each said surface is disposed on an angle of taper of the order of magnitude of 10° and is roughened to effect a self-locking fit with the other surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 28 words
A ligament anchor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said clamp sleeve has a conically tapered entry at a smaller end for passage of a ligament therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 38 words
A ligament anchor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said anchoring sleeve has a plurality of longitudinal ribs on a conical outer surface thereof for penetrating into a bone to prevent rotation of said anchoring sleeve therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 38 words
A ligament anchor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said anchoring sleeve has an enlarged end having a bevel and wherein said clamp sleeve is of a longitudinal length to extend completely within said bevelled anchoring sleeve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 120 words
A ligament anchor comprising an anchoring sleeve for insertion in a bone opening, said sleeve having a conical outer surface tapering inwardly in a first direction and a conical inner surface defining a longitudinal bore; and a radically deformable clamp sleeve for insertion within said bore of said anchoring sleeve, said clamp sleeve having a conical outer surface for frictionally engaging with said conical inner surface of said anchoring sleeve and a plurality of oppositely directed circumferentially spaced slots defining a plurality of segments and permitting said clamp sleeve to be inwardly radially deformable, each said segment having a plurality of inwardly directed teeth formed on the inner surface for engaging in a ligament passing longitudinally through said clamp sleeve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 120 words
A ligament anchor comprising an anchoring sleeve for insertion in a bone opening, said sleeve having a conical outer surface tapering inwardly in a first direction and a conical inner surface defining a longitudinal bore; and a radically deformable clamp sleeve for insertion within said bore of said anchoring sleeve, said clamp sleeve having a conical outer surface for frictionally engaging with said conical inner surface of said anchoring sleeve and a plurality of oppositely directed circumferentially spaced slots defining a plurality of segments and permitting said clamp sleeve to be inwardly radially deformable, each said segment having a plurality of inwardly directed teeth formed on the inner surface for engaging in a ligament passing longitudinally through said clamp sleeve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 30 words
A ligament anchor as set forth in claim 7 wherein said clamp sleeve defines a cylindrical bore for receiving a ligament therein and a conically tapered entry into said bore.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 40 words
A ligament anchor as set forth in claim 7 wherein each said surface is disposed on an angle of taper of the order of magnitude of a 10° and is roughened to effect a self-locking fit with the other surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 38 words
A ligament anchor as set forth in claim 7 wherein said anchoring sleeve has an enlarged end having a bevel and wherein said clamp sleeve is of a longitudinal length to extend completely within said bevelled anchoring sleeve.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 35 words
A ligament anchor as set forth in claim 7 wherein said anchoring sleeve has a plurality of longitudinal ribs on said outer surface for penetrating into a bone to prevent rotation of said sleeve therein.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

FR2395012A1 Cited
FR2586927A1 Cited
EP0232049A1 Cited
EP0342281A1 Cited
DE8914308U1 Cited
US4870957A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-04-28 1995-10-28 1996-04-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-04-28 1999-10-28 2000-04-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-04-28 2003-10-28 2004-04-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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