Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A ligament reconstruction graft anchor assembly for securing a graft ligament to a bone having a tunnel formed therein, comprising: a body member having a first end, a second end, a central opening and an external screw thread; graft fixation means secured to said first end of said body member, said graft fixation means being rotatable relative to said body member; and said body member having means for receiving a driver, said means for receiving extending through said body member from said first end to said second end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
A ligament reconstruction graft anchor assembly for securing a graft ligament to a bone having a tunnel formed therein, comprising: a body member having a first end, a second end, a central opening and an external screw thread; graft fixation means secured to said first end of said body member, said graft fixation means being rotatable relative to said body member; and said body member having means for receiving a driver, said means for receiving extending through said body member from said first end to said second end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
An anchor assembly for securing a replacement ligament graft in an opening in a bone structure, said anchor assembly comprising: a sleeve member having a first end and a second end, an axial extending passageway therein and an external screw thread; an insert member positioned in said passageway and secured to said sleeve member, said insert member having means for receiving a driver at both of its ends; and a ring member rotatably affixed to said insert member, said ring member having graft fastening means thereon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
86 words
An anchor assembly for securing a replacement ligament graft in an opening in a bone structure, said anchor assembly comprising: a sleeve member having a first end and a second end, an axial extending passageway therein and an external screw thread; an insert member positioned in said passageway and secured to said sleeve member, said insert member having means for receiving a driver at both of its ends; and a ring member rotatably affixed to said insert member, said ring member having graft fastening means thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The anchor assembly of claim 2 further comprising annular groove means formed in said anchor assembly between said sleeve member and said insert member, and wherein said ring member is rotatably affixed in said groove means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
178 words
A graft anchor assembly for securing a graft to a bone having a tunnel formed therein, comprising: a body member having a first end, a second end, and an external screw thread; graft fixation means secured to said first end of said body member, said graft fixation means being rotatable relative to said body member and including fastening means for enabling the graft to be fixedly attached to said graft fixation means; said graft fixation means comprising continuously cylindrical ring means integrally and rotatably coupled to said body member; means for engaging a driver to enable rotatable placement of said body member in the bone tunnel while said graft fixation means is rotatably secured to said body member and the graft is fixedly attached to said graft fixation means to minimize torquing the graft; and said first end of said body member comprising flange means and said graft fixation means including holding means positioned over said flange means, said holding means including a rim of said ring means which extends radially inwardly to slidably engage said body member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
178 words
A graft anchor assembly for securing a graft to a bone having a tunnel formed therein, comprising: a body member having a first end, a second end, and an external screw thread; graft fixation means secured to said first end of said body member, said graft fixation means being rotatable relative to said body member and including fastening means for enabling the graft to be fixedly attached to said graft fixation means; said graft fixation means comprising continuously cylindrical ring means integrally and rotatably coupled to said body member; means for engaging a driver to enable rotatable placement of said body member in the bone tunnel while said graft fixation means is rotatably secured to said body member and the graft is fixedly attached to said graft fixation means to minimize torquing the graft; and said first end of said body member comprising flange means and said graft fixation means including holding means positioned over said flange means, said holding means including a rim of said ring means which extends radially inwardly to slidably engage said body member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The anchor assembly of claim 4 wherein said rim slidably engages said body member between said flange means and said external screw thread.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The anchor assembly of claim 4 wherein said fastening means includes a plurality of slots formed in a side wall of said ring means to enable fastening of the graft to said ring means using suture means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
172 words
A graft anchor assembly for securing a graft to a bone having a tunnel formed therein, comprising: a body member having a first end, a second end, and an external screw thread; graft fixation means secured to said first end of said body member, said graft fixation means being rotatable relative to said body member and including fastening means for enabling the graft to be fixedly attached to said graft fixation means; means for engaging a driver to enable rotatable placement of said body member in the bone tunnel while said graft fixation means is rotatably secured to said body member and the graft is fixedly attached to said graft fixation means to minimize torquing the graft; said first end of said body member comprising flange means and said graft fixation means includes holding means positioned over said flange means; and said graft fixation means comprising continuously cylindrical ring means integrally and rotatably coupled to said body member, said ring means defining a central passageway to enable insertion of the driver therethrough.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
172 words
A graft anchor assembly for securing a graft to a bone having a tunnel formed therein, comprising: a body member having a first end, a second end, and an external screw thread; graft fixation means secured to said first end of said body member, said graft fixation means being rotatable relative to said body member and including fastening means for enabling the graft to be fixedly attached to said graft fixation means; means for engaging a driver to enable rotatable placement of said body member in the bone tunnel while said graft fixation means is rotatably secured to said body member and the graft is fixedly attached to said graft fixation means to minimize torquing the graft; said first end of said body member comprising flange means and said graft fixation means includes holding means positioned over said flange means; and said graft fixation means comprising continuously cylindrical ring means integrally and rotatably coupled to said body member, said ring means defining a central passageway to enable insertion of the driver therethrough.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The anchor assembly of claim 7 wherein said screw thread is a self-tapping thread.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
148 words
A graft anchor assembly for securing a graft to a bone having a tunnel formed therein, comprising: a body member having a first end, a second end, and an external screw thread; graft fixation means secured to said first end of said body member, said graft fixation means being rotatable relative to said body member and including fastening means for enabling the graft to be fixedly attached to said graft fixation means; means for engaging a driver to enable rotatable placement of said body member in the bone tunnel while said graft fixation means is rotatably secured to said body member and the graft is fixedly attached to said graft fixation means to minimize torquing the graft; and an insert member positioned in said body member, said insert member having flange means thereon positioned at said first end of said body member for securing said graft fixation means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
148 words
A graft anchor assembly for securing a graft to a bone having a tunnel formed therein, comprising: a body member having a first end, a second end, and an external screw thread; graft fixation means secured to said first end of said body member, said graft fixation means being rotatable relative to said body member and including fastening means for enabling the graft to be fixedly attached to said graft fixation means; means for engaging a driver to enable rotatable placement of said body member in the bone tunnel while said graft fixation means is rotatably secured to said body member and the graft is fixedly attached to said graft fixation means to minimize torquing the graft; and an insert member positioned in said body member, said insert member having flange means thereon positioned at said first end of said body member for securing said graft fixation means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The anchor assembly of claim 9 wherein said insert member defines therein said means for engaging a driver.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
The anchor assembly of claim 10 wherein said graft fixation means comprises cylindrical ring means having a rim which extends radially inwardly to slidably engage said insert member, and said ring means defining a central passageway to enable insertion of the driver therethrough to engage said means for engaging.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of implanting a replacement graft ligament between a patient's femur and tibia, said method comprising the steps of: forming a first tunnel in the tibia; forming a second tunnel in the femur; providing an anchor assembly having a body member including an external screw thread and having graft fixation means rotatably secured to an end of said body member; attaching a first end of the graft ligament to said graft fixation means; positioning said anchor assembly with the graft ligament attached thereto into the second tunnel by rotating said body member into the second tunnel without substantially imparting rotation to said graft fixation means and the attached graft ligament; and securing the other end of the graft ligament in the first tunnel or outside the first tunnel on the tibia.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of implanting a replacement graft ligament between a patient's femur and tibia, said method comprising the steps of: forming a first tunnel in the tibia; forming a second tunnel in the femur; providing an anchor assembly having a body member including an external screw thread and having graft fixation means rotatably secured to an end of said body member; attaching a first end of the graft ligament to said graft fixation means; positioning said anchor assembly with the graft ligament attached thereto into the second tunnel by rotating said body member into the second tunnel without substantially imparting rotation to said graft fixation means and the attached graft ligament; and securing the other end of the graft ligament in the first tunnel or outside the first tunnel on the tibia.