US6387129B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bicortical tibial fixation of ACL grafts
Assignee: Arthrex Inc
•
Filing: 1999-03-01
•
Granted: 2002-05-14
•
Expires: 2019-03-01
Abstract
Abstract A method of securing a graft in a bone tunnel, in which graft is secured within the tunnel at both the entrance and the exit ends of the tunnel to provide bicortical fixation of the graft in the bone. Interference screws or other fixation devices are used to secure the graft within the tunnel. For tibial tunnel fixation using an interference screw, the back end of the distal screw is angled so that it closely approximates the angle of the outer tibial tunnel rim. The distal screw is non-cannulated to prevent hematomas from being formed by blood flowing from the tibial tunnel into the surrounding soft tissue. The proximal screw has a restricted cannula to minimize the flow of synovial fluid entering the tibial tunnel. Advantageously, the space between the two screws fills with blood to promote faster healing and incorporation of the graft in the tibial tunnel.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernhard Rieser
- 👤 Reinhold Schmieding
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/08; A61F2/0811; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/84; A61B17/86; A61B17/8605; A61B17/861; A61B17/8615; A61B17/8645; A61B17/88; A61B17/8875; A61B17/8877; A61B17/888; A61F2/0805; A61B17/864; A61F2002/0817; A61F2002/0841; A61F2002/0847; A61F2002/0858; A61F2002/0876; A61F2002/0882; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S606/00; Y10S606/907; Y10S606/908; Y10S606/916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of securing a graft in a bone, the method comprising the steps of: forming a tunnel through the bone, the tunnel having an entrance and an exit at opposing ends of the tunnel; extending a portion of the graft within the tunnel between the entrance and the exit; and securing the graft within the tunnel to cortical bone at both the entrance and the exit of the tunnel to provide bicortical fixation of the portion of the graft in the tunnel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of securing a graft in a bone, the method comprising the steps of: forming a tunnel through the bone, the tunnel having an entrance and an exit at opposing ends of the tunnel; extending a portion of the graft within the tunnel between the entrance and the exit; and securing the graft within the tunnel to cortical bone at both the entrance and the exit of the tunnel to provide bicortical fixation of the portion of the graft in the tunnel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of securing the graft comprises installing an interference fixation device at each of the opposing ends of the tunnel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of extending the graft between the bone and another bone, and securing the graft to the other bone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of securing the graft is performed using interference screws.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of securing the graft is performed using an adhesive.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the bone is a tibia.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the graft replaces an anterior cruciate ligament.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
A set of fixation devices for securing a graft in a tunnel formed through a single bone, the tunnel having a proximal end and a distal end located at opposing ends of the tunnel, the set of fixation devices comprising: a proximal fixation device configured to secure the graft to cortical bone at the proximal end of the tunnel; and a distal fixation device configured to secure the graft to cortical bone at the distal end of the tunnel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
A set of fixation devices for securing a graft in a tunnel formed through a single bone, the tunnel having a proximal end and a distal end located at opposing ends of the tunnel, the set of fixation devices comprising: a proximal fixation device configured to secure the graft to cortical bone at the proximal end of the tunnel; and a distal fixation device configured to secure the graft to cortical bone at the distal end of the tunnel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The set of fixation devices of claim 8 , wherein the proximal device has a tip with a rounded profile.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The set of fixation devices of claim 8 , wherein the proximal device is fully-threaded.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The set of fixation devices of claim 8 , wherein the distal device is partially cannulated and has a back end with a surface disposed at an angle relative to a perpendicular to a central axis of the fixation device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The set of fixation devices of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the distal device and the proximal device is an interference screw.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The set of fixation devices according to claim 8 , wherein the proximal and distal fixation devices are configured to substantially occlude the respective opposing ends of the tunnel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
An interference screw for graft fixation, the screw having a fully-threaded outer surface, and at least one of a back end with a surface disposed at an angle relative to a perpendicular to a central axis of the interference screw and a front end having a rounded profile.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
An interference screw for graft fixation, the screw having a fully-threaded outer surface, and at least one of a back end with a surface disposed at an angle relative to a perpendicular to a central axis of the interference screw and a front end having a rounded profile.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3953896A
Cited
US4301551A
Cited
US4605414A
Cited
US4755183A
Cited
US4828562A
Cited
US5423819A
Cited
US5108433A
Cited
US5282802A
Cited
US5062843A
Cited
US5470334A
Cited
US5116337A
Cited
US5496326A
Cited
US5234430A
Cited
US5364400A
Cited
US5211647A
Cited
US5562671A
Cited
US5632748A
Cited
US5961520A
Cited
US5456685A
Cited
US5895425A
Cited
US5957924A
Cited
US5993486A
Cited
US5871504A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-05-13 | 2005-11-12 | 2006-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-05-13 | 2009-11-12 | 2010-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-05-13 | 2013-11-12 | 2014-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |