Tissue fixator

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a needle for attaching a fixator to a soft tissue graft. The needle includes a pointed distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end including a suture coupler, the suture coupler including a hook and a pocket formed by the hook, wherein the needle is curved along an entire length of the needle. A fixator for use with the needle and method of fixating a soft tissue graft to a bone is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of fixating a soft tissue graft to bone, the method comprising:
 coupling a fixator to the soft tissue graft via use of a needle, the needle comprising a pointed distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end including a suture coupler, the suture coupler including a hook and a pocket formed by the hook, the needle curved; and   coupling the soft tissue graft to the bone via use of the fixator.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further including:
 passing the soft tissue graft through a tunnel within the bone, the bone including a femur. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fixator includes a flexible member coupled to the fixator, the flexible member coupling the fixator to the needle. 
     
     
         4 . The needle of  claim 3 , wherein a portion of the flexible member is housed within the pocket. 
     
     
         5 . The needle of  claim 4 , wherein the flexible member a continuous loop, the loop including a first end housed within the pocket and a second end coupled to the fixator. 
     
     
         6 . The needle of  claim 5 , wherein the fixator includes at least one hole, the second end of the suture coupled to the fixator via use of the hole. 
     
     
         7 . The needle of  claim 6 , wherein the fixator includes two holes, the second end of the suture coupled to the fixator via use of the two holes. 
     
     
         8 . The needle of  claim 7 , wherein the fixator includes four holes, the second end of the suture coupled to the fixator via use of two of the holes, a trailing suture coupled to a third hole, and a leading suture coupled to a fourth hole.