Graft ligament anchor and method for attaching a graft ligament to a bone

Abstract

A graft ligament anchor includes a tubular body having a bore therethrough and proximal and distal ends. A flange is attached to the tubular body at the proximal end thereof and extends radially outwardly beyond the tubular body. A deformable wall is disposed in the tubular body bore and defines, at least in part, a chamber for retaining the graft ligament therein. An expansion device is configured for insertion into the tubular body axially of the tubular body, and for impinging upon the deformable wall to press the deformable wall, and hence the graft ligament received in the chamber, toward a wall of the bore, whereby to fix the graft ligament in the tubular body.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A graft ligament anchor comprising:
 a tubular body having a bore therethrough and proximal and distal ends;   an annular flange attached to said tubular body at said proximal end thereof and extending radially outwardly beyond said body;   a deformable wall disposed in said tubular body bore and defining, at least in part, a chamber for receiving the graft ligament therein; and   an expansion device for insertion into said tubular body, axially of said body, for impinging upon said deformable wall so as to press said deformable wall, and hence the graft ligament received in said chamber, toward a wall of said bore, whereby to fix the graft ligament in the tubular body.   
     
     
         10 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A graft ligament anchor according to  claim 9  wherein said annular flange is disposed in a plane, and said body is disposed such that an axis of said body is at an acute angle to said plane. 
     
     
         16 . A graft ligament anchor according to  claim 15  wherein said tubular body is provided with an opening extending through a side of said body and said chamber. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A graft ligament anchor according to  claim 17  wherein said annular flange is disposed in a plane at an acute angle to an axis of said body. 
     
     
         19 . A graft ligament anchor according to  claim 18  wherein said body is provided with an opening through a side wall thereof. 
     
     
         20 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A graft ligament anchor comprising:
 a tubular body having a bore therethrough and proximal and distal ends;   a flange attached to said tubular body at said proximal end thereof and extending outwardly beyond said tubular body;   a carrier device for insertion into said tubular body axially of said tubular body and having a lengthwise-extending external groove for receiving a graft ligament therein, and a central channel extending lengthwise therethrough, said carrier device having a deformable side wall; and   an expansion device for insertion into said carrier device channel when said carrier device is in said tubular body, for impinging upon said deformable wall so as to press said deformable wall, and hence the ligament received in said carrier device groove, toward a wall of said tubular body bore, whereby to fix the graft ligament in said tubular body.   
     
     
         30 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A graft ligament anchor according to  claim 29  wherein said flange is disposed in a plane and said tubular body is disposed such that an axis of said tubular body is at an acute angle to said plane. 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A method for securing a graft ligament in a bone tunnel having an end opening on a bone surface, a free end of the graft ligament extending out of the bone tunnel end opening, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a graft ligament anchor comprising:   a tubular body having a bore therethrough and proximal and distal ends;   a flange attached to said tubular body at said proximal end and extending outwardly beyond said body;   a carrier device for insertion into said tubular body axially of said body and having a lengthwise-extending external groove for receiving the ligament therein and a central channel extending lengthwise therethrough, said carrier device having a deformable side wall; and   an expansion device for insertion into said carrier device when said carrier device is in said tubular body, for impinging upon said deformable wall so as to press said deformable wall, and hence the graft ligament received in said carrier groove, toward a wall of said tubular body bore, whereby to fix the graft ligament in the tubular body;   extending the ligament free end through the tubular body;   placing said tubular body in the bone tunnel end opening and in the bone tunnel such that said flange engages the bone surface;   extending the ligament free end through the carrier device groove;   placing said carrier device in said tubular body;   pulling the graft ligament taut; and   inserting said expansion device into said carrier device and advancing said expansion device therein to press the carrier device deformable wall, and hence the graft ligament received in said groove, toward an internal wall of said tubular body, whereby to fix the graft ligament in the bone tunnel.   
     
     
         35 - 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . A graft ligament anchor according to  claim 9  wherein said tubular body is provided with a textured internal surface. 
     
     
         58 - 67 . (canceled) 
     
     
         68 . A method in accordance with  claim 34  wherein providing a graft ligament anchor comprises providing said carrier device of a length exceeding a length of said tubular body, and placing said carrier device in said tubular body comprises extending a distal portion of said carrier device beyond a distal end of said tubular member, such that advancing said expansion device in said carrier device presses said distal portion of said carrier device toward an internal wall of the bone tunnel and thereby presses the graft ligament toward the internal wall of the bone tunnel. 
     
     
         69 - 74 . (canceled) 
     
     
         75 . A graft ligament anchor comprising:
 a tubular body having a bore therethrough and proximal and distal ends, said tubular body being adapted for placement in a bone tunnel proximate an opening thereof on a bone surface;   stop apparatus connected to said tubular body for preventing movement of said tubular body further into the bone tunnel after placement of said tubular body in the opening and the bone tunnel; and   an expansion device for insertion into said tubular body axially of said tubular body, for impinging upon the graft ligament so as to press the graft ligament toward the tubular body, whereby to fix the graft ligament in the tubular body.   
     
     
         76 . (canceled) 
     
     
         77 . A graft ligament anchor comprising:
 a carrier device for insertion into a bone tunnel, said carrier having an external groove therein for receiving a graft ligament, and a central channel extending lengthwise therethrough, said carrier being expandable; and   an expansion device for insertion into said carrier device channel when said carrier device is in said tubular body, for expanding said carrier device against an internal wall of the bone tunnel, whereby to fix the graft ligament in the bone tunnel.   
     
     
         78 . A method for securing a graft ligament in a bone tunnel having an end opening on a bone surface, a free end of the graft ligament extending out of the bone tunnel end opening, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a graft ligament anchor comprising:
 a carrier device for insertion into the bone tunnel, said carrier having an external groove therein for receiving a graft ligament, and a central channel extending lengthwise therethrough, said carrier being expandable; and 
 an expansion device for insertion into said carrier device channel when said carrier device is in the bone tunnel, for expanding said carrier device against an internal wall of the bone tunnel, whereby to fix the graft ligament in the bone tunnel; 
   extending the ligament free end through said carrier device groove;   placing said carrier device in the bone tunnel;   pulling the graft ligament taut; and   inserting said expansion device into said carrier device and advancing said expansion device therein to press said carrier device, and hence the graft ligament received in said groove, toward an internal wall of the bone tunnel, whereby to fix the graft ligament in the bone tunnel.