Method and instruments for ACL reconstruction

Claim 2

A drill guide for determining the site for and positioning a transverse pin member in a femur, the drill guide comprising: a) an elongated bar member; b) an aimer member attached to said bar member and extending therefrom and shaped to pass in a posterior direction from said bar member toward the femoral intercondylar notch and having a tip having a notched convexly curved and flattened upper surface shaped to nest with the cartilaginous roof surface of the femoral intercondylar notch; and c) a positioning member mounted to said bar member defining a transverse drilling axis passing through a femoral condyle and having a predetermined orientation with respect to said aimer member tip.

Claim 3

The drill guide as set forth in claim 1 wherein said aimer member extends in a generally perpendicular direction form said bar member.

Claim 4

The drill guide as set forth in claim 1 wherein said positioning member is slidably positioned on said bar member and has a drill sleeve for holding and positioning a drill therein.

Claim 5

The drill guide as set forth in claim 3 wherein said drill sleeve is releasably attached to said positioning member.

Claim 6

The drill guide as set forth in claim 1 further comprising means for releasably attaching said positioning member to said bar member, whereby said positioning member can be temporarily secured to said bar member at a variety of positions along said bar member.

Claim 7

The drill guide as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tip is configured such that a pin member installed in the femur through said positioning member from a side of the femur will be installed immediately adjacent to and not intersecting with said tip in said intercondylar notch.

Claim 8

A drill guide for determining the site for and positioning a pin member in a tibia to mark the location of a tibial tunnel for use in replacing an anterior cruciate ligament, the guide member comprising: a) an elongated bar member; b) a hook member attached to said bar member having an elongated shaft and shaped to pass in a posterior direction toward the femoral intercondylar notch and having a curved tip configured to contact a position pin present within the femoral intercondylar notch and having a notched convexly curved and flattened upper surface shaped to be positioned against the anterior aspect of the intercondylar notch and a concave lower surface adapted to receive and nest with said positioning pin; and c) a positioning member mounted to said bar member defining a generally posterior drilling axis passing through the tibia toward said femoral intercondylar notch.

Claim 9

A drill guide for determining the site for and positioning a pin member in a tibia to mark the location of a tibial tunnel for use in replacing an anterior cruciate ligament, the guide member comprising: a) an elongated bar member; b) a hook member attached to said bar member having an elongated shaft and shaped to pass in a posterior direction toward the femoral intercondylar notch and having a curved tip configured to contact a position pin present within the femoral intercondylar notch and having a notched convexly curved and flattened upper surface shaped to be positioned against the anterior aspect of the intercondylar notch and a concave lower surface adapted to receive and nest with said positioning pin; and c) a positioning member mounted to said bar member defining a generally posterior drilling axis passing through the tibia toward said femoral intercondylar notch.

Claim 10

The drill guide as set forth in claim 7 wherein said positioning member has a drill sleeve for holding and positioning a drill therein.

Claim 11

The drill guide as set forth in claim 8 wherein said drill sleeve is releasably attached to said positioning member.

Claim 12

The drill guide as set forth in claim 7 further comprising means for releasably attaching said positioning member to said bar member, whereby said positioning member can be temporarily secured to said bar member at a variety of positions along said bar member.

Claim 13

A drilling system for accurately determining the site of the positioning for a tibial tunnel for use in replacing an anterior cruciate ligament with a substitute graft member, said graft member being adapted to be securely positioned in the knee joint in tunnels in the femur and tibia, said system comprising: a) a first drill guide for positioning and placing a first pin member transversely in the femur, said drill guide having a first aimer member attached to said first bar member having a tip having a notched convexly curved and flattened upper surface shaped to nest with the cartilaginous roof surface of the femoral intercondylar notch; b) a second drill guide for positioning and placing a second pin member in the tibia, said second drill guide having a second elongated bar member and a second aimer member attached to said second bar member having an elongated shaft and a curved tip shaped to contact said first pin member in said femoral intercondylar notch and having a notched convexly curved and flattened upper surface shaped to be positioned against the anterior aspect of the intercondylar notch and a concave lower surface adapted to receive and nest with said first pin member; and c) a positioning member for drilling holes, said positioning member sized and configured to be positioned either on said first bar member for using said first drill guide or on said second bar member for using said second drill guide; whereby when said positioning member is positioned on said first bar member, said first drill guide is used to position and place said first pin member transversely in said femur, and when said positioning member is positioned on said second bar member, said second drill guide is used to determine the site for the drilling of the tibial tunnel.

Claim 14

A drilling system for accurately determining the site of the positioning for a tibial tunnel for use in replacing an anterior cruciate ligament with a substitute graft member, said graft member being adapted to be securely positioned in the knee joint in tunnels in the femur and tibia, said system comprising: a) a first drill guide for positioning and placing a first pin member transversely in the femur, said drill guide having a first aimer member attached to said first bar member having a tip having a notched convexly curved and flattened upper surface shaped to nest with the cartilaginous roof surface of the femoral intercondylar notch; b) a second drill guide for positioning and placing a second pin member in the tibia, said second drill guide having a second elongated bar member and a second aimer member attached to said second bar member having an elongated shaft and a curved tip shaped to contact said first pin member in said femoral intercondylar notch and having a notched convexly curved and flattened upper surface shaped to be positioned against the anterior aspect of the intercondylar notch and a concave lower surface adapted to receive and nest with said first pin member; and c) a positioning member for drilling holes, said positioning member sized and configured to be positioned either on said first bar member for using said first drill guide or on said second bar member for using said second drill guide; whereby when said positioning member is positioned on said first bar member, said first drill guide is used to position and place said first pin member transversely in said femur, and when said positioning member is positioned on said second bar member, said second drill guide is used to determine the site for the drilling of the tibial tunnel.

Claim 15

The drilling system as set forth in claim 11 further comprising means for releasably attaching said positioning member to said first bar member and said second bar member, whereby said positioning member can be positioned and temporarily secured to either of said bar members at a variety of different positions thereon.

Claim 16

The drilling system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said positioning member has a drill sleeve for holding and positioning a drill therein.

Claim 17

The drilling system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said drill sleeve is releasably attached to said positioning member.