US5209756A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ligament fixation staple
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-11-05
•
Granted: 1993-05-11
•
Expires: 2010-11-05
Abstract
Abstract A fixation device for securing a prosthetic ligament to a bone and which comprises a bone staple having a head portion by means of which the staple can be driven into the bone, and a pair of legs extending from the head and having ends engageable into the bone, characterized by a stirrup for guiding the driving movement of the staple and arranged also to cooperate with the staple in order to enable the prosthetic ligament to engage the staple and the stirrup and to be securable to the bone upon completion of driving of the staple into the bone, the stirrup comprising two generally parallel side portions which define guides to receive the legs of the staple and to guide the driving movement of the legs, and also defining an aperture through which the ligament can be taken prior to securement of the ligament to the bone.
Inventors
- 👤 Bahaa B. Seedhom
- 👤 Simon Collins
- 👤 Anthony C. Swann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:20
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/08; A61F2/0805; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/064; A61B17/0642; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/88; A61F2/0811; A61F2002/0817; A61F2002/0823; A61F2002/0829; A61F2002/0847; A61F2002/0852; A61F2002/0876; A61F2002/0888
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A ligament fixation device for securing a ligament to a bone and which comprises a bone staple having a head portion by which the staple can be driven into the bone, and a pair of legs extending away from the head portion and having ends engageable into the bone, characterized by a stirrup for guiding the driving movement of the staple and co-operable with the staple in order to anchor the ligament to the bone, characterized in that the stirrup has guides to engage the legs of the staple and thereby guide the driving movement of the staple, and an aperture formed in the stirrup and defined between a pair of opposed side edges, said aperture permitting the ligament to be received by the stirrup in serpentine manner with a first portion to be located between the stirrup and the bone, a second portion to pass around one of said side edges of the aperture, through the aperture and around the other side edge, and a third portion to be located between the head portion of the staple and the stirrup, whereby to anchor the ligament to the bone when the staple is driven into the bone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
A ligament fixation device for securing a ligament to a bone and which comprises a bone staple having a head portion by which the staple can be driven into the bone, and a pair of legs extending away from the head portion and having ends engageable into the bone, characterized by a stirrup for guiding the driving movement of the staple and co-operable with the staple in order to anchor the ligament to the bone, characterized in that the stirrup has guides to engage the legs of the staple and thereby guide the driving movement of the staple, and an aperture formed in the stirrup and defined between a pair of opposed side edges, said aperture permitting the ligament to be received by the stirrup in serpentine manner with a first portion to be located between the stirrup and the bone, a second portion to pass around one of said side edges of the aperture, through the aperture and around the other side edge, and a third portion to be located between the head portion of the staple and the stirrup, whereby to anchor the ligament to the bone when the staple is driven into the bone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A device as defined in claim 1 in which the stirrup comprises side portions and at least two cross-members extending between side portions of the stirrup at positions intermediate the ends of the side portions in order to define said aperture, and also to define said guides through which the staple legs can be received.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device as defined in claim 1, in which the stirrup is symmetrical in construction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as defined in claim 1, in which the stirrup includes chamfered or otherwise profiled edges to minimize wear of the ligament.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as defined in claim 1, comprising spikes provided on the underside of the stirrup to secure the latter to ligament or adjacent bone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as defined in claim 1, in which the side portions of the stirrup are provided with recessed portions to hold the ligament captive against lateral movement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A device as defined in claim 1, in which the cross-members which interconnect the side portions of the stirrup are of smaller thickness than the side portions to enable the head portion of the staple to be located substantially within the stirrup upon completion of driving of the staple into the bone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
A device as defined in claim 1, in which the stirrup is rectangular in shape, having side portions and cross-member end portions which define an aperture in which the staple can be received, the ligament also being capable of being taken through this aperture and of being securely anchored therein when the head of the staple is driven to a position in which it is located within the aperture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device as defined in claim 1, in which the stirrup comprises side portions and at least two intermediate cross-members which interconnect said side portions in order to define end apertures through which the staple legs can be taken.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device as defined in claim 1, and in combination with a prosthetic ligament to form a ligament fixation system, in which the prosthetic ligament has tapered ends to facilitate threading of the ligament through the aperture in the stirrup.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as defined in claim 10, in which the tapered ends are densely woven sections.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as defined in claim 11, in which a removable protective sheath surrounds the ligament.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as defined in claim 10, in which the ligament includes a pouch and a bone plug, and a densely woven section adjacent to the bone plug.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
144 words
A fixation device for securing a ligament to a bone and which comprises a bone staple having a head portion by which the staple can be driven into the bone, and a pair of legs extending from the head portion and having ends engageable into the bone, characterized by a stirrup, for guiding the driving movement of the staple, co-operable with the staple in order to anchor the ligament to the bone, said stirrup having guides to receive the legs of the staple and to guide the driving movement of the legs, and also having an aperture through which the ligament can be taken prior to securement of the ligament to the bone, and further characterized by at least two cross-members which interconnect side portions of the stirrup and which are disposed outwardly of the guide postions through which the staple legs are received.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
144 words
A fixation device for securing a ligament to a bone and which comprises a bone staple having a head portion by which the staple can be driven into the bone, and a pair of legs extending from the head portion and having ends engageable into the bone, characterized by a stirrup, for guiding the driving movement of the staple, co-operable with the staple in order to anchor the ligament to the bone, said stirrup having guides to receive the legs of the staple and to guide the driving movement of the legs, and also having an aperture through which the ligament can be taken prior to securement of the ligament to the bone, and further characterized by at least two cross-members which interconnect side portions of the stirrup and which are disposed outwardly of the guide postions through which the staple legs are received.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
158 words
A fixation device for securing a ligament to a bone and which comprises a bone staple having a head portion by which the staple can be driven into the bone, and a pair of legs extending from the head portion and having ends engageable into the bone, characterized by a stirrup, for guiding the driving movement of the staple, co-operable with the staple in order to anchor the ligament the bone, said stirrup having guides to receive the legs of the staple and to guide the driving movement of the legs, and also having an aperture through which the ligament can be taken prior to securement of the ligament to the bone, and further comprising cross-members which interconnect the side portions of the stirrup which are of smaller thickness than the side portions to enable the head portion of the staple to be located substantially within the stirrup upon completion of driving of the staple into the bone.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
158 words
A fixation device for securing a ligament to a bone and which comprises a bone staple having a head portion by which the staple can be driven into the bone, and a pair of legs extending from the head portion and having ends engageable into the bone, characterized by a stirrup, for guiding the driving movement of the staple, co-operable with the staple in order to anchor the ligament the bone, said stirrup having guides to receive the legs of the staple and to guide the driving movement of the legs, and also having an aperture through which the ligament can be taken prior to securement of the ligament to the bone, and further comprising cross-members which interconnect the side portions of the stirrup which are of smaller thickness than the side portions to enable the head portion of the staple to be located substantially within the stirrup upon completion of driving of the staple into the bone.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
174 words
A fixation device for securing a ligament to a bone and which comprises a bone staple having a head portion by which the staple can be driven into the bone, and a pair of legs extending from the head portion and having ends engageable into the bone, characterized by a stirrup, for guiding the driving movement of the staple, co-operable with the staple in order to anchor the ligament to the bone, said stirrup having guides to receive the legs of the staple and to guide the driving movement of the legs, and also having an aperture through which the ligament can be taken prior to securement of the ligament to the bone, and wherein the stirrup is rectangular in shape, having side portions and cross-member portions which define an aperture in which the staple can be received, the ligament also being capable of being taken through this aperture and of being securely anchored therein when the head of the staple is driven to a position in which it is located within the aperture.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
174 words
A fixation device for securing a ligament to a bone and which comprises a bone staple having a head portion by which the staple can be driven into the bone, and a pair of legs extending from the head portion and having ends engageable into the bone, characterized by a stirrup, for guiding the driving movement of the staple, co-operable with the staple in order to anchor the ligament to the bone, said stirrup having guides to receive the legs of the staple and to guide the driving movement of the legs, and also having an aperture through which the ligament can be taken prior to securement of the ligament to the bone, and wherein the stirrup is rectangular in shape, having side portions and cross-member portions which define an aperture in which the staple can be received, the ligament also being capable of being taken through this aperture and of being securely anchored therein when the head of the staple is driven to a position in which it is located within the aperture.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
172 words
A fixation system having a fixation device for securing a ligament to a bone and which comprises a bone staple having a head portion by which the staple can be driven into the bone, and a pair of legs extending from the head portion and having ends engageable into the bone, characterized by a stirrup, for guiding the driving movement of the staple co-operable with the staple in order to anchor the ligament to the bone, said stirrup having guides to receive the legs of the staple and to guide the driving movement of the legs, and also having an aperture through which the ligament can be taken prior to securement of the ligament to the bone, and including a prosthetic ligament to be taken through the aperture in the stirrup, the prosthetic ligament having tapered ends to facilitate the threading of the ligament through the aperture in the stirrup, and wherein the ligament further includes a pouch and a bone plug, and a densely woven section adjacent to the bone plug.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
172 words
A fixation system having a fixation device for securing a ligament to a bone and which comprises a bone staple having a head portion by which the staple can be driven into the bone, and a pair of legs extending from the head portion and having ends engageable into the bone, characterized by a stirrup, for guiding the driving movement of the staple co-operable with the staple in order to anchor the ligament to the bone, said stirrup having guides to receive the legs of the staple and to guide the driving movement of the legs, and also having an aperture through which the ligament can be taken prior to securement of the ligament to the bone, and including a prosthetic ligament to be taken through the aperture in the stirrup, the prosthetic ligament having tapered ends to facilitate the threading of the ligament through the aperture in the stirrup, and wherein the ligament further includes a pouch and a bone plug, and a densely woven section adjacent to the bone plug.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-05-10 | 1996-11-09 | 1997-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-10 | 2000-11-09 | 2001-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-10 | 2004-11-09 | 2005-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |