US5562671A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ligament replacement cross pinning method
Assignee: INNOVASIVE ACQUISITION CORP
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Filing: 1994-09-26
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Granted: 1996-10-08
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Expires: 2014-09-26
Abstract
Abstract A method is provided for installing a femoral bone plug in a femoral tunnel formed in a femur. The method includes the steps of inserting the femoral bone plug into the femoral tunnel, and installing a transverse pin through the femur generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the femoral tunnel and intersecting the femoral tunnel. The transverse pin engages the femoral bone plug to force the femoral bone plug against a wall of the femoral tunnel to secure the femoral bone plug inside the femoral tunnel and to promote healing and bonding of the femoral bone plug to the femur.
Inventors
- 👤 E. Marlowe Goble
- 👤 Jerry L. Lower
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:45
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/08; A61F2/0811; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/84; A61B17/86; A61F2/30; A61F2/38; A61F2002/0817; A61F2002/0823; A61F2002/0829; A61F2002/0847; A61F2002/087; A61F2002/0876; A61F2002/0882
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for installing a femoral bone plug in a femoral tunnel formed in a femur, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the femoral bone plug into the femoral tunnel; installing a transverse pin through the femur generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the femoral tunnel and intersecting the femoral tunnel; engaging the femoral bone plug with the transverse pin; and forcing the femoral bone plug against a wall of the femoral tunnel by wedging engagement with the transverse pin to secure the femoral bone plug inside the femoral tunnel and to promote healing and bonding of the femoral bone plug to the femur.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for installing a femoral bone plug in a femoral tunnel formed in a femur, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the femoral bone plug into the femoral tunnel; installing a transverse pin through the femur generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the femoral tunnel and intersecting the femoral tunnel; engaging the femoral bone plug with the transverse pin; and forcing the femoral bone plug against a wall of the femoral tunnel by wedging engagement with the transverse pin to secure the femoral bone plug inside the femoral tunnel and to promote healing and bonding of the femoral bone plug to the femur.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of installing the transverse pin includes the step of drilling a guide hole intersecting the femoral tunnel and the femoral bone plug to guide the transverse pin and inserting the transverse pin through the guide hole.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the transverse pin includes a tapered shank having a diameter near a tip of the pin which is smaller than a diameter of the guide hole and having a diameter at a location on the shank spaced apart from the tip which is larger than the diameter of the guide hole so that the pin applies a normal force to the femoral bone plug to hold the femoral bone plug against the wall of the femoral tunnel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein a tip of the transverse pin passes through the femoral bone plug and pierces into the wall of the femoral tunnel.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for installing a bone-tendon-bone graft in substantially coaxial tibial and femoral tunnels formed in a knee joint by drilling upwardly from the anterior surface of a tibia below its plateau, through the plateau, and into the distal end of a femur, the bone-tendon-bone graft including a tibial bone plug, a femoral bone plug, and a tendon portion extending therebetween, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the graft upwardly through the femoral tunnel to position the femoral bone plug in the femoral tunnel; installing a transverse pin through the femur generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the femoral tunnel and intersecting the femoral tunnel; engaging the femoral bone plug with the transverse pin; and forcing the femoral bone plug against a wall of the femoral tunnel by wedging engagement with the transverse pin to secure the graft inside the femoral tunnel and to promote healing and bonding of the femoral bone plug to the femur.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for installing a bone-tendon-bone graft in substantially coaxial tibial and femoral tunnels formed in a knee joint by drilling upwardly from the anterior surface of a tibia below its plateau, through the plateau, and into the distal end of a femur, the bone-tendon-bone graft including a tibial bone plug, a femoral bone plug, and a tendon portion extending therebetween, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the graft upwardly through the femoral tunnel to position the femoral bone plug in the femoral tunnel; installing a transverse pin through the femur generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the femoral tunnel and intersecting the femoral tunnel; engaging the femoral bone plug with the transverse pin; and forcing the femoral bone plug against a wall of the femoral tunnel by wedging engagement with the transverse pin to secure the graft inside the femoral tunnel and to promote healing and bonding of the femoral bone plug to the femur.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the step of installing the transverse pin includes the step of drilling a guide hole intersecting the femoral tunnel and the femoral bone plug to guide the transverse pin and inserting the transverse pin through the guide hole.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the transverse pin includes a tapered shank having a diameter near a tip of the pin which is smaller than a diameter of the guide hole and having a diameter at a location on the shank spaced apart from the tip which is larger than the diameter of the guide hole so that the pin applies a normal force to the femoral bone plug to hold the femoral bone plug against the wall of the femoral tunnel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 5, wherein a tip of the transverse pin passes through the femoral bone plug and pierces into the wall of the femoral tunnel.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for installing a replacement ligament including a tibial bone plug, a femoral bone plug, and a tendon portion extending therebetween, in a knee joint including a tibia and femur, the method comprising the steps of: drilling upwardly with a tunnel drill from an anterior surface of the tibia, through the tibial plateau, and into the distal end of the femur to form a tibial tunnel and a femoral tunnel substantially aligned on a single tunnel axis; inserting the replacement ligament upwardly through the femoral tunnel to position the femoral bone plug in the femoral tunnel; installing a transverse pin through the femur generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the femoral tunnel and intersecting the femoral tunnel; engaging the femoral bone plug with the transverse pin; and forcing the femoral bone plug against a wall of the femoral tunnel by wedging engagement with the transverse pin to secure the graft inside the femur and to promote healing and bonding of the femoral bone plug to the femoral tunnel.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for installing a replacement ligament including a tibial bone plug, a femoral bone plug, and a tendon portion extending therebetween, in a knee joint including a tibia and femur, the method comprising the steps of: drilling upwardly with a tunnel drill from an anterior surface of the tibia, through the tibial plateau, and into the distal end of the femur to form a tibial tunnel and a femoral tunnel substantially aligned on a single tunnel axis; inserting the replacement ligament upwardly through the femoral tunnel to position the femoral bone plug in the femoral tunnel; installing a transverse pin through the femur generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the femoral tunnel and intersecting the femoral tunnel; engaging the femoral bone plug with the transverse pin; and forcing the femoral bone plug against a wall of the femoral tunnel by wedging engagement with the transverse pin to secure the graft inside the femur and to promote healing and bonding of the femoral bone plug to the femoral tunnel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the step of installing the transverse pin includes the step of drilling a guide hole intersecting the femoral tunnel and the femoral bone plug to guide the transverse pin and inserting the transverse pin through the guide hole.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the transverse pin includes a tapered shank having a diameter near a tip of the pin which is smaller than a diameter of the guide hole and having a diameter at a location on the shank spaced apart from the tip which is larger than the diameter of the guide hole so that the pin applies a normal force to the femoral bone plug to hold the femoral bone plug against the wall of the femoral tunnel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 9, wherein a tip of the transverse pin passes through the femoral bone plug and pierces into the wall of the femoral tunnel.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for installing a bone plug in a femoral tunnel formed in a femur, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the bone plug into the femoral tunnel; installing a partially threaded member through the femur generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the femoral tunnel and intersecting the femoral tunnel; wedgingly engaging the bone plug by the partially threaded member; and forcing the bone plug against a wall of the femoral tunnel by the partially threaded member to secure the bone plug inside the femoral tunnel and to promote healing and bonding of the bone plug to the femur.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for installing a bone plug in a femoral tunnel formed in a femur, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the bone plug into the femoral tunnel; installing a partially threaded member through the femur generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the femoral tunnel and intersecting the femoral tunnel; wedgingly engaging the bone plug by the partially threaded member; and forcing the bone plug against a wall of the femoral tunnel by the partially threaded member to secure the bone plug inside the femoral tunnel and to promote healing and bonding of the bone plug to the femur.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
86 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the partially threaded member has a thread portion cooperating with the femur for causing the partially threaded member to progress through the femur and into the femoral tunnel at right angles thereto as the partially threaded member is rotated, and wherein the partially threaded member has a tapered portion which wedgingly engages the bone plug to force the bone plug against a wall of the femoral tunnel as the partially threaded member is rotated to progress into the femoral tunnel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the partially threaded member extends through the femoral tunnel and bone plug and engages the bone, on an opposite side of the femoral tunnel from its entrance into the femoral tunnel, to assist in securing the bone plug in the femoral tunnel.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for installing a bone plug in a tunnel formed in a bone, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the bone plug into the tunnel; installing a transverse partially threaded member through the bone generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tunnel and intersecting the tunnel; wedgingly engaging the bone plug by the transverse partially threaded member; and forcing the bone plug against a wall of the tunnel by the transverse partially threaded member to secure the bone plug inside the tunnel and to promote healing and bonding of the bone plug to the bone.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for installing a bone plug in a tunnel formed in a bone, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the bone plug into the tunnel; installing a transverse partially threaded member through the bone generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tunnel and intersecting the tunnel; wedgingly engaging the bone plug by the transverse partially threaded member; and forcing the bone plug against a wall of the tunnel by the transverse partially threaded member to secure the bone plug inside the tunnel and to promote healing and bonding of the bone plug to the bone.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the transverse partially threaded member has a thread portion cooperating with the bone for causing the transverse partially threaded member to progress through the bone and into the tunnel at right angles thereto as the transverse partially threaded member is rotated, and wherein the transverse partially threaded member has a tapered portion which wedgingly engages the bone plug to force the bone plug against a wall of the tunnel as the transverse partially threaded member is rotated to progress into the tunnel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the transverse partially threaded member extends through the tunnel and bone plug and engages the bone, on an opposite side of the tunnel from its entrance into the tunnel, to assist in securing the bone plug in the tunnel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-10-08 | 2000-04-08 | 2000-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-08 | 2004-04-08 | 2004-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-08 | 2008-04-08 | 2008-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |