Sheaths for implantable fixation devices
AssigneeSmith & Nephew, Inc.
InventorsRaymond A. Bojarski, Paul Alexander Torrie, Fraser Harvie, Steven W. Ek
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Abstract
Sheaths for implantable fixation devices and methods of using the sheaths are disclosed. Sheaths have a flexible body with a perforated wall, and an interior of the body is sized and shaped to receive the fixation device. Sheaths include a plurality of flexible or inflexible tubes arranged to form a ring, where the central cavity defined by the ring is sized and shaped to receive the fixation device.
Claims20
A method of fixing soft tissue within a bone tunnel, the method comprising:
- placing both the soft tissue and a flexible, relieved, tube-shaped sheath within the bone tunnel, such that the sheath at least partly surrounds the soft tissue;
- and
- positioning a fixation device within the sheath to press the soft tissue against an interior surface of the sheath, and to press an exterior surface of the sheath against a wall of the bone tunnel, thereby fixing the soft tissue within the bone tunnel.
A method of fixing soft tissue within a bone tunnel, the method comprising:
- placing both the soft tissue and a flexible, relieved, tube-shaped sheath within the bone tunnel, such that the sheath at least partly surrounds the soft tissue;
- and
- positioning a fixation device within the bone tunnel adjacent the sheath to compress the soft tissue within the sheath and to press an exterior surface of the sheath against a wall of the bone tunnel, thereby fixing the soft tissue within the bone tunnel.
A method of fixing soft tissue within a bone tunnel, the method comprising:
- placing the soft tissue within the bone tunnel;
- positioning a fixation device within an interior of a flexible, relieved, tube-shaped sheath;
- and
- inserting the fixation device and the sheath into the bone tunnel to compress the soft tissue between an exterior surface of the sheath and a wall of the bone tunnel, thereby fixing the soft tissue within the bone tunnel.
A method of fixing soft tissue within a bone tunnel, the method comprising:
- placing the soft tissue within the bone tunnel;
- positioning a flexible, relieved, tube-shaped sheath within the bone tunnel adjacent the soft tissue;
- and
- inserting a fixation device into an interior of the sheath to compress the soft tissue between an exterior surface of the sheath and a wall of the bone tunnel, thereby fixing the soft tissue within the bone tunnel.
A method of fixing soft tissue within a bone tunnel, the method comprising:
- inserting a sheath into the bone tunnel, the sheath comprising at least three generally parallel tubes arranged to form a ring, the ring defining a central cavity between the tubes;
- passing segments of the soft tissue through at least two of the tubes;
- and
- positioning a fixation device within the central cavity of the ring to compress the tubes between the fixation device and a wall of the bone tunnel, and to compress the soft tissue segments within their respective tubes, thereby fixing the soft tissue within the bone tunnel.
A method of fixing soft tissue within a bone tunnel, the method comprising:
- inserting a sheath into the bone tunnel, the sheath having two generally parallel tubes;
- passing a portion of the soft tissue through a first of the two tubes;
- and
- positioning a fixation device within the second of the two tubes to compress the first tube between the fixation device and a wall of the bone tunnel, and to compress the portion of the soft tissue within the first tube, thereby fixing the soft tissue within the bone tunnel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.