Apparatus and method for use in performing a surgical operation

Claim 1

A method for use in the reconstruction of a cruciate ligament comprising: preparing a knee for an arthroscopic operation; providing an arcuate support means having a longitudinal axis comprising an arc of a circle having a center; attaching a targeting means to said arcuate support means so that said targeting means has a target area at said center of said circle; attaching a clamping means to said arcuate support means for cooperation with said target means to hold said target area at a desired location; arthroscopically placing said target area at a position relative to the anatomic center of the original cruciate ligament on the tibia; clamping said targeting means on said tibia so that said target area remains in said position; providing a guide means on said arcuate support means, said guide means having a passageway extending therethrough and having a longitudinal axis coinciding with a ray from said center of circle; inserting a kirschner wire through said guide means and through said tibia until said kirschner wire hits said target area; removing said arcuate support means, said targeting means, said clamping means and said guide means; over-reaming said kirschner wire to form a passageway in said tibia; attaching another targeting means having a target area to said clamping means; arthroscopically inserting a suture into said knee; tying one end of said suture to said target area of said another targeting means; arthroscopically placing said target area of said another targeting means at a position relative to the anatomic center of the original cruciate ligament on the femur; clamping said another targeting means on said femur so that its target area remains in said position; arthroscopically moving said suture through said passageway formed in said tibia; providing an excursion device; securing said suture to said excursion device so that any movement of said suture can be observed; performing an isometric test by flexing said knee through positions of 0 degree to 90 degree of movement; observing any movement of said suture during said movement of said knee to ensure that any movement is less than the required limit; attaching said arcuate support means and said guide means to said clamping means; inserting a kirschner wire through said guide means until said kirschner wire hits said target area; removing said arcuate support means, said targeting means, said clamping means and said guide means; over-reaming said kirschner wire to form a passageway through said femur; and arthroscopically placing a cruciate ligament graft substitute in and extending between the tibial and femoral passageways.

Claim 2

A method for use in the reconstruction of a cruciate ligament comprising: preparing a knee for an arthroscopic operation; providing an arcuate support means having a longitudinal axis comprising an arc of a circle having a center; attaching a targeting means to said arcuate support means so that said targeting means has a target area at said center of said circle; attaching a clamping means to said arcuate support means for cooperation with said target means to hold said target area at a desired location; arthroscopically placing said target area at a position relative to the anatomic center of the original cruciate ligament on the tibia; clamping said targeting means on said tibia so that said target area remains in said position; providing a guide means on said arcuate support means, said guide means having a passageway extending therethrough and having a longitudinal axis coinciding with a ray from said center of circle; inserting a kirschner wire through said guide means and through said tibia until said kirschner wire hits said target area; removing said arcuate support means, said targeting means, said clamping means and said guide means; over-reaming said kirschner wire to form a passageway in said tibia; attaching another targeting means having a target area to said clamping means; arthroscopically inserting a suture into said knee; tying one end of said suture to said target area of said another targeting means; arthroscopically placing said target area of said another targeting means at a position relative to the anatomic center of the original cruciate ligament on the femur; clamping said another targeting means on said femur so that its target area remains in said position; arthroscopically moving said suture through said passageway formed in said tibia; providing an excursion device; securing said suture to said excursion device so that any movement of said suture can be observed; performing an isometric test by flexing said knee through positions of 0 degree to 90 degree of movement; observing any movement of said suture during said movement of said knee to ensure that any movement is less than the required limit; attaching said arcuate support means and said guide means to said clamping means; inserting a kirschner wire through said guide means until said kirschner wire hits said target area; removing said arcuate support means, said targeting means, said clamping means and said guide means; over-reaming said kirschner wire to form a passageway through said femur; and arthroscopically placing a cruciate ligament graft substitute in and extending between the tibial and femoral passageways.

Claim 6

A method as in claim, 4 and further comprising: arthroscopically placing said target area at said position on said femur by inserting said target means from a location posterior of said knee.

Claim 8

A method for locating guide wires for performing an osteotomy comprising: preparing a knee for an osteotomy; providing an arcuate support means having a longitudinal axis comprising an arc of a circle having a center; securing a targeting means to said arcuate support means so that said targeting means has a target area at said center of said circle; attaching a clamping means to said arcuate support means for cooperation with said targeting means to hold said target area at a desired location, said clamping means having a passageway extending therethrough and having a longitudinal axis coinciding with a ray from said center of said circle; placing said target area at the level of the desired first osteotomy cut; clamping said targeting means so that said target area remains in position; providing a guide means on said arcuate support means, said guide means having a passageway extending therethrough and having a longitudinal axis coinciding with a ray from said center of said circle; positioning said guide means relative to said clamping means so that a desired angular relationship exists between said longitudinal axis of said passageway of said clamping means and said longitudinal axis of said passageway of said guide means; inserting a kirschner wire through said passageway of said clamping means until said kirschner wire strikes said target area; inserting another kirschner wire through said passageway of said guide means until said another kirschner wire strikes said kirschner wire; and removing said arcuate support, said target means, said clamping means and said guide means so that said kirschner wires can serve as guide wire for a bone cutting means.

Claim 9

A method for locating guide wires for performing an osteotomy comprising: preparing a knee for an osteotomy; providing an arcuate support means having a longitudinal axis comprising an arc of a circle having a center; securing a targeting means to said arcuate support means so that said targeting means has a target area at said center of said circle; attaching a clamping means to said arcuate support means for cooperation with said targeting means to hold said target area at a desired location, said clamping means having a passageway extending therethrough and having a longitudinal axis coinciding with a ray from said center of said circle; placing said target area at the level of the desired first osteotomy cut; clamping said targeting means so that said target area remains in position; providing a guide means on said arcuate support means, said guide means having a passageway extending therethrough and having a longitudinal axis coinciding with a ray from said center of said circle; positioning said guide means relative to said clamping means so that a desired angular relationship exists between said longitudinal axis of said passageway of said clamping means and said longitudinal axis of said passageway of said guide means; inserting a kirschner wire through said passageway of said clamping means until said kirschner wire strikes said target area; inserting another kirschner wire through said passageway of said guide means until said another kirschner wire strikes said kirschner wire; and removing said arcuate support, said target means, said clamping means and said guide means so that said kirschner wires can serve as guide wire for a bone cutting means.

Claim 10

A method for use in the reconstruction of a cruciate knee ligament comprising: preparing said knee for an arthroscopic operation; providing an arcuate support means having a longitudinal axis comprising an arc of a circle having a center; attaching a targeting means to said arcuate support means so that said targeting means has a target area portion at said center of said circle; attaching a clamping means to said arcuate support means for cooperation with said target means to hold said target area portion at a desired location; arthroscopically placing said target area portion at a desired location inside said knee; moving said clamping means toward said knee and applying pressure to clamp said targeting means on said knee so that said target area portion remains in said position; providing a guide means on said arcuate support means, said guide means having a passageway extending therethrough and having a longitudinal axis coinciding with a ray from said center of circle; and inserting a kirschner wire through said guide means and through said knee until said kirschner wire hits said target area.

Claim 11

A method for use in the reconstruction of a cruciate knee ligament comprising: preparing said knee for an arthroscopic operation; providing an arcuate support means having a longitudinal axis comprising an arc of a circle having a center; attaching a targeting means to said arcuate support means so that said targeting means has a target area portion at said center of said circle; attaching a clamping means to said arcuate support means for cooperation with said target means to hold said target area portion at a desired location; arthroscopically placing said target area portion at a desired location inside said knee; moving said clamping means toward said knee and applying pressure to clamp said targeting means on said knee so that said target area portion remains in said position; providing a guide means on said arcuate support means, said guide means having a passageway extending therethrough and having a longitudinal axis coinciding with a ray from said center of circle; and inserting a kirschner wire through said guide means and through said knee until said kirschner wire hits said target area.