Apparatus and method for reconstructing a ligament

Apparatus for use in reconstructing a ligament, said apparatus comprising:

• a graft ligament support block for supporting a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, said graft ligament support block comprising:
• a body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end;
• said body defining a graft hole extending therethrough transverse to the longitudinal axis and configured to receive a graft ligament therein;
• said body defining a transverse fixation pin hole extending therethrough transverse to the longitudinal axis and configured to define an entrance adapted to receive a transverse fixation pin therein when said body is disposed in the bone tunnel, to lock said body in the bone tunnel;
• wherein the entrance of the transverse fixation pin hole is tapered along the entire edge thereof to cause the transverse fixation pin to be funneled thereby into the transverse fixation pin hole;
• and
• an installation tool, said installation tool comprising:
• a holder, said holder comprising:
• a shaft having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the distal end of said shaft comprising at least one finger for engagement in said opening;
• and
• a handle mounted to the proximal end of said shaft.

Apparatus for use in reconstructing a ligament, said apparatus comprising:

• a graft ligament support block for supporting a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, said graft ligament support block comprising:
• a body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end;
• said body defining a graft hole extending therethrough transverse to the longitudinal axis and configured to receive a graft ligament therein;
• said body defining a transverse fixation pin hole extending therethrough transverse to the longitudinal axis and configured to define an entrance adapted to receive a transverse fixation pin therein when said body is disposed in the bone tunnel, to lock said body in the bone tunnel;
• wherein the entrance of the transverse fixation pin hole is tapered along the edge thereof to cause the transverse fixation pin to be funneled thereby into the transverse fixation pin hole;
• and
• wherein the apparatus further comprises a transverse fixation pin for disposition in the transverse fixation pin hole.

Apparatus for use in reconstructing a ligament, said apparatus comprising:

• a graft ligament support block for supporting a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, said graft ligament support block comprising:
• a body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end;
• said body defining a graft hole extending therethrough transverse to the longitudinal axis and configured to receive a graft ligament therein;
• said body defining a transverse fixation pin hole extending therethrough transverse to the longitudinal axis and configured to define an entrance adapted to receive a transverse fixation pin therein when said body is disposed in the bone tunnel, to lock said body in the bone tunnel;
• wherein the entrance of the transverse fixation pin hole is tapered along the edge thereof to cause the transverse fixation pin to be funneled thereby into the transverse fixation pin hole;
• and
• wherein a portion of said body through which the transverse fixation hole extends is provided with a substantially cylindrical configuration, and the transverse fixation hole is sufficiently large to provide curved recesses on either side of said body when viewed normal to an axis of the transverse fixation hole, and normal to the longitudinal axis of said body, whereby to facilitate blind positioning of the transverse fixation pin therein.

Apparatus for use in reconstructing a ligament, said apparatus comprising:

• a graft ligament support block for supporting a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, said graft ligament support block comprising:
• a body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end;
• said body defining a graft hole extending therethrough transverse to the longitudinal axis and configured to receive a graft ligament therein;
• and
• said body defining a transverse fixation pin hole extending therethrough transverse to the longitudinal axis and configured to receive a transverse fixation pin therein;
• wherein a portion of said body through which the transverse fixation hole extends is provided with a substantially cylindrical configuration, and the transverse fixation hole is sufficiently large to provide curved recesses on either side of said body when viewed normal to an axis of the transverse fixation hole and normal to the longitudinal axis of said body, whereby to facilitate blind positioning of the transverse fixation pin therein.