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US 8,137,360 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for fixing a graft in a bone tunnel
AssigneeDePuy Mitek, LLC
InventorsGregory R. Whittaker, Ronald L. Taylor, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for fixing a ligament in a bone tunnel by cross-pinning the ligament in the bone tunnel.
Claims18
A surgical method, comprising:
- inserting a bone tunnel guide rod into a femoral tunnel formed in a femur such that a distal end of the bone tunnel guide rod engages a distal end of the femoral tunnel;
- with the distal end of the bone tunnel guide rod engaging the distal end of the femoral tunnel, reading a gradiated index on the bone tunnel guide rod to determine a location at which the bone tunnel guide rod intersects a tibial plateau;
- and
- after reading the gradiated index, moving a guide member along a frame member attached to the bone tunnel guide rod to position the guide member along a scale on the frame member based on the reading of the gradiated index;
- wherein, with the guide member at the selected position, a longitudinal axis of a bore formed through the guide member intersects a longitudinal axis of the bone tunnel guide rod outside of the femur.
2 more elements
A surgical apparatus, comprising:
- a bone tunnel guide rod having a gradiated index formed along a longitudinal length thereof, and the bone tunnel guide rod having a passageway formed through a sidewall thereof;
- a frame member having a base portion and an arm portion, the base portion being attached adjacent to a proximal end of the bone tunnel guide rod, and the arm portion being spaced a distance away from the bone tunnel guide rod and having a scale formed thereon that corresponds with the gradiated index of the bone tunnel guide rod;
- and
- a guide member movably coupled to the arm portion such that the guide member is selectively adjustable along the arm portion and positionable relative to the scale.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.