Methods and procedures for ligament repair

Abstract

Methods and devices for the repair of a ruptured ligament using a scaffold device are provided. Aspects of the invention, may include a scaffold attached by a suture to an anchor. In aspects of the invention, the anchor may be secured to a bone near or at the repair site.

1 .- 86 . (canceled) 
     
     
         87 . A construct for repair or augmentation of a tissue exposed to synovial fluid comprising a compressible porous support scaffold configured for repair or augmentation of the tissue, wherein the scaffold allows cell ingrowth. 
     
     
         88 . The construct of  claim 87 , wherein the tissue is a ligament, tendon, meniscus, cartilage, labrum or muscle. 
     
     
         89 . The construct of  claim 88 , wherein the ligament is an ACL. 
     
     
         90 . The construct of  claim 87 , wherein the scaffold is expandable. 
     
     
         91 . The construct of  claim 87 , further comprising a suture. 
     
     
         92 . The construct of  claim 91 , wherein the suture is bioabsorbable. 
     
     
         93 . The construct of  claim 87 , further comprising an anchor. 
     
     
         94 . The construct of  claim 93 , wherein the anchor is selected from the group consisting of a screw, a barb, a helical anchor, a staple, a clip, a snap, and a rivet. 
     
     
         95 . The construct of  claim 87 , further comprising a bone insertion device. 
     
     
         96 . The construct of  claim 87 , wherein the scaffold comprises a therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         97 . The construct of claim  5 , wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of hormones, cytokines, growth factors, clotting factors, anti-protease proteins, angiogenic proteins, antiangiogenic proteins, bone morphogenic proteins, osteoinductive factor, fibronectin, endothelial cell growth factor, cementum attachment extracts, ketanserin, human growth hormone, animal growth hormones, epidermal growth factor, interleukin-1, human alpha thrombin, transforming growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, platelet derived growth factors, fibroblast growth factors, and periodontal ligament chemotactic factors. 
     
     
         98 . The construct of  claim 87 , wherein the scaffold comprises a clotting factor. 
     
     
         99 . The construct of  claim 87 , wherein the scaffold comprises platelets or platelet rich plasma. 
     
     
         100 . The construct of  claim 87 , wherein the scaffold comprises collagen. 
     
     
         101 . The construct of  claim 87 , wherein the scaffold is a sponge. 
     
     
         102 . The construct of  claim 87 , wherein the scaffold is tubular, semi-tubular, or cylindrical. 
     
     
         103 . The construct of  claim 87 , wherein the scaffold is an amorphous shape that conforms to the shape of a repair space. 
     
     
         104 . The construct of  claim 87 , comprising the scaffold, at least one bone insertion device and at least one suture. 
     
     
         105 . The construct of  claim 104 , comprising a platelet and a clotting factor in the scaffold. 
     
     
         106 . The construct of  claim 87 , wherein the construct further comprises xenograft tissue, allograft tissue, or autograft tissue. 
     
     
         107 . A kit comprising the construct of  claim 87 , and a scaffold, suture, and a bone insertion device. 
     
     
         108 . A kit comprising the construct of  claim 87 , a scaffold and platelets or means for obtaining platelets from a patient. 
     
     
         109 . The kit of  claim 107  or  108 , further comprising a therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         110 . The kit of  claim 109 , wherein the therapeutic agent is a clotting factor.