Apparatus and methos for reconstructing a ligament

Abstract

Apparatus and method is disclosed for securing a graft ligament in a bone tunnel. A method is disclosed comprising the steps of forming a first bone tunnel and a second bone tunnel being transverse to, and intersecting one another; positioning a closed loop of a flexible member within the first bone tunnel and a portion of the second bone tunnel such that the closed loop extends out of the first bone tunnel and the second bone tunnel, parting the closed loop outside the second bone tunnel so as to create a first free end and a second free end, and passing the second free end through the opposite end of a second free end through the opposite end of second bone tunnel, and positioning the graft ligament over a portion of the flexible member extending out of the first opening; and pulling the flexible member so as to draw the graft ligament into the first bone tunnel.

1 . A system for positioning a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, comprising:
 a flexible member;   an inserter having diametrically opposed grooves and a diametrically extending channel, the diametrically opposed grooves being configured to seat the flexible member such that a segment of the flexible member is suspended across the diametrically extending channel; and   a passing pin configured to extend through the channel in the inserter such that a notch on the passing pin can engage the segment of the flexible member suspended across the channel.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the inserter comprises a hollow elongate shaft. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the diametrically-extending channel is formed in a distal end of the inserter. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible member comprises a closed loop. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , the notch is formed in a first end of the passing pin and a second end of the passing pin includes at least one hole formed therein. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one hole comprises first and second holes formed in the passing pin. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cannulated crosspin configured to be mounted on the flexible member. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cannulated driver configured to be advanced over the flexible member. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a cannulated bead mounted on the flexible member outboard of the cannulated driver. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the cannulated bead has a larger outside diameter than a diameter of an inner lumen of the cannulated driver. 
   
   
       11 . A system for positioning a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, comprising:
 a passing pin having a notch formed in a first end thereof and configured to engage a flexible member, and at least one hole formed in a second end thereof and configured to receive a flexible member therethrough; and   an inserter having a channel formed in an end thereof and configured to receive the passing pin transversely.   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the inserter includes diametrically opposed grooves formed in the first end thereof and configured to seat a flexible member such that a segment of the flexible member is suspended across the channel. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a cannulated crosspin configured to be mounted on a flexible member. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a cannulated driver configured to be advanced over a flexible member. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a cannulated bead configured to be mounted on a flexible member outboard of the cannulated driver. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one hole comprises first and second holes formed in the passing pin. 
   
   
       17 . A system for positioning a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, comprising:
 a flexible member configured to extend through a second bone tunnel which intersects, and extends traverse to, a first the bone tunnel, such that a first free end of the flexible member extends out of a first opening of the second bone tunnel and a second free end of the flexible member extends out of a second opening of the second bone tunnel;   a cannulated crosspin mounted on a free end of the flexible member;   a cannulated driver mounted on the flexible member outboard of the cannulated crosspin; and   a cannulated bead mounted on the flexible member outboard of the cannulated driver, the cannulated bead having a larger outside diameter than a diameter of an inside lumen of the cannulated driver.   
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a passing pin having a notch configured to engage the flexible member. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising an inserter having a opposed grooves formed therein and configured to receive the flexible member. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the inserted includes a channel formed therein and positioned such that a segment of the flexible member received in the opposed grooves is suspended across the channel.