Method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to bone
AssigneeBiomet Sports Medicine, LLC
InventorJacy C. Hoeppner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for securing a suture to bone can include grasping a first suture portion with a grasping member on a positioning tool. The first suture portion can be located into a first cannulation defined in the positioning tool. A cutting member can be advanced through a second cannulation defined on the positioning tool and out through a distal opening defined on the positioning tool. A first bone hole can be cut into the bone with the cutting member. A flexible member advancing tool can be advanced through the first cannulation. The first suture portion can be urged out of the distal opening and into the first bone hole.
Claims20
A method of securing a suture to bone, comprising:
- grasping a first suture portion with a grasping member on a positioning tool;
- locating the first suture portion into a first cannulation defined by the positioning tool;
- advancing a cutting member through a second cannulation defined by the positioning tool, through a converging cannulation portion, and out through a distal opening defined by the positioning tool, wherein the first and second cannulations having distinct longitudinal axes, converge at the converging cannulation portion into a common cannulation portion at the distal opening of the positioning tool;
- cutting a first bone hole into the bone with the cutting member;
- advancing a flexible member advancing tool through the first cannulation and the converging cannulation portion;
- and
- urging the first suture portion out of the distal opening and into the first bone hole.
A method of securing a suture to bone, comprising:
- actuating an arm movably coupled to a positioning tool from a normally closed position to an open grasping position;
- grasping a first suture portion with the arm;
- locating the first suture portion relative to a first cannulation defined by the positioning tool;
- locating the positioning tool at a first position against a bone surface;
- advancing a cutting member through a second cannulation defined by the positioning tool, through a converging cannulation portion, and out through a distal opening defined by the positioning tool, while the first suture portion is grasped by the arm and located relative to the first cannulation, wherein the first and second cannulations converge at the converging cannulation portion into a common cannulation portion at the distal opening of the positioning tool;
- cutting a first bone hole into the bone with the cutting member;
- with the positioning tool at the first position, advancing a flexible member advancing tool through the first cannulation and the converging cannulation portion;
- and
- urging the first suture portion out of the distal opening and into the first bone hole.
A method of securing a suture to bone, comprising:
- grasping a first flexible member with a grasping member on a positioning tool;
- positioning the first flexible member within a first cannulation defined by the positioning tool;
- advancing a cutting member through a second cannulation defined by the positioning tool and through a converging cannulation portion while the first flexible member is positioned within the first cannulation, wherein the first and second cannulations converge at the converging cannulation portion into a common cannulation portion at a distal opening of the positioning tool;
- cutting a first bone hole into the bone with the cutting member;
- advancing a flexible member advancing tool through the first cannulation and the converging cannulation portion;
- and
- urging the first flexible member into the first bone hole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.