Securing connective tissue to a bone surface

Abstract

Systems and methods for replacing, reconstructing and / or securing synthetic or biological connective tissue to interior and / or exterior bone surfaces. An anchoring apparatus and method of use are disclosed that secure a tendon or ligament within an interior opening of a bone structure. The apparatus comprises a securing device, a retention device, and an anchoring device. The securing device has an elongated body with an outer surface and an inner surface wherein the tendon or ligament fits between the interior of the open bone structure and the outer surface of the securing device. The retention device has an elongated body and a retention head, wherein the retention device securely fits within the interior surface of the securing device. The anchoring or holding device connects to the retention head of the retention device and extends outside the interior opening of the bone structure to engage the outer surface of the bone structure to hold the retention device and securing device in a fixed position inside the bone structure.

Description

[0001] 1. Related Applications[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 655,703 filed Sep. 6, 2000, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING A SOFT TISSUE GRAFT TO BONE DURING AN ACL RECONSTRUCTION.[0003] 2. Field of the Invention[0004] The present invention relates to orthopedic surgical devices and procedures. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for replacing, reconstructing and / or securing synthetic or biological connective tissue to interior and / or exterior bone surfaces. Moreover, at least some implementations of the present invention relate to attaching and maintaining a replacement anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) against a bone.[0005] 3. Background and Related Art[0006] The knee joint is one of the strongest joints in the body because of the powerful ligaments that bind the femur and tibia together. Although the knee is vulnerable to injury as a result of the inc...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

In reality, however, the knee joint provides complicated mechanical movements and maneuverability far more complex than a simple hinge mechanism in regards to the rotation and gliding motions that may occur at the joint.

Although the structure of the knee provides one of the strongest joints of the body, the knee is usually one of the most frequently injured joints.

Athletes and persons who perform tasks requiring a great deal of body rotation are the most susceptible to serious ligament stressing and tearing at the knee joint.

Unfortunately, many of the prior art methods of reconstructing and replacing damaged ligaments have generally proven inadequate for immediately restoring full strength and stability to the involved joint.

Furthermore, there has long been a problem of effectively fastening a ligament to a bone surface for the duration of a ligament's healing process, which process involves the ligament graft growing to an adjoining bone mass to restore mobility to the injured joint of an orthopedic patient.

For example, piercing and puncturing of the ligament by the legs of the staples or other fixation devices may result in serious damage to the cross-fibers of the ligament or tissue.

Such damage may cause weakening in the tensile strength of the ligament and result in tearing along the cross-fibers of the ligament under normal physical stress.

When puncturing or tearing of cross-fibers occurs, the time required for the ligament to heal increases, which in turn results in a significant extension in the amount of time required to rehabilitate the knee joint before allowing the patient to return to normal daily activities.

Unfortunately, problems occur when trying to secure the threads of the suture to the anchoring device when a physician is working in restricted or confined areas.

After a period of time, significant disadvantages emerged wherein a number of the ligament grafts retained in bone mass by the combination drilling / anchor devices began to rupture and tear at their fixation sites around the area where the ligament was in direct contact with the sharp outer edges of the opening of the channel formed in the bone.

For example, as replacement ligaments tolerate the stress and strain associated with normal physical activity, the ligament generally begins to fatigue when wearing against the sharp outer edges of a bone channel opening.

This form of fatigue typically causes significant damage to the ligament by tearing or cutting into ligament cross-fibers, thus, weakening the connection of the replacement ligament at its reattachment site.

Consequently, after a period of time, cross-fiber fatigue, commonly known as "sun-dial" or "windshield wiper" wear, may further result in dislocating the replacement ligament from its original fixation site.

Nevertheless, unfavorable disadvantages of ligament bending was observed by those skilled in the art as typically resulting in a force concentration at the location of the ligament bend generally causing the cross-fibers of the ligament to weaken, potentially subjecting the ligament to the possibility of further tearing or rupturing, as in the case of ligament sundial wear.

Additionally, exterior devices can rub and cause pain, requiring removal about 10% of the time.

Unfortunately, puncturing, piercing and possible tearing generally results to the cross-fibers of the ligament when the ligament is in direct engagement with the sharp threads of the interference screw.

During flexion or extension of the ligament, tension loads tend to act against the fixation site of the ligament generally causing strain on the ligament against its fixation site.

Under such strain, the facing of the threads of the interference screw generally effect a pinching or piercing of the ligament which may cause tearing or dislocation of the replacement ligament under the stress associated with normal physical activities.

Although the use of a patella tendon bone block provides a number of advantages, especially when dealing with fixation of the replacement ligament, the harvesting of a patella bone block typically results in extensive morbidity to the knee joint, requiring a considerable amount of time for the knee joint to heal, before a patient can resume any normal physical activity.

Unfortunately, significant disadvantages remain with all the presently known devices and methods offered by the prior art.

In such an arrangement, the method causes spikes to embed in the outside cortex of the bone tunnel.

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