Apparatus And Method For Tibial Fixation Of Soft Tissue

Abstract

Methods for fixation of a soft tissue graft in a bone including: forming in the bone a tunnel defining an entrance opening and an exit opening at opposite ends of the tunnel, the tunnel including an anterior wall surface and a posterior wall surface opposite to the anterior wall surface; positioning the soft tissue graft within the tunnel such that the soft tissue graft extends through both the entrance opening and the exit opening of the tunnel; inserting a graft fixation apparatus into the tunnel and driving spikes of the graft fixation apparatus into the posterior wall surface to mount the graft fixation apparatus to the posterior wall surface of the tunnel such that the graft fixation apparatus is anterior to the posterior wall surface and is not recessed beneath the posterior wall surface; and securing the soft tissue graft inside the tunnel with the graft fixation apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for fixation of a soft tissue within a bore formed in a bone of an anatomy, comprising:
 a member defining a first portion having a first side and a second side and a first end configured to be positioned further in the bore than a second end;   the first side includes a plurality of first projections configured to engage the soft tissue against the bore;   the second side includes a cooperation surface configured to cooperate with an interference member; and   a second portion formed as a single piece with and extending from the second end of the member configured to prevent the member from axially extending into the bore more than a predetermined amount;   wherein the first end includes a rounded nose and defines a notch.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the notch is V-shaped. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the V-shaped notch includes a plurality of V-shaped notches substantially parallel with each other. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion extends substantially transversely to a longitudinal axis of the member. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion includes a first wing extending from a first edge of the member and a second wing extending from a second edge of the member. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the interference member is a screw. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first projections includes a plurality of first projections formed substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the member is formed of at least one of a titanium, stainless steel, titanium alloy, cobalt-chrome-molybdenum alloy, polymer, or a resorbable polymer. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the second portion includes a bone engaging face that is substantially planar. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for fixation of a soft tissue within a bore formed in a bone of an anatomy, comprising:
 a first member extending between a first end and a second end, wherein the first member includes a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is configured to engage the soft tissue and the second side defines a first cooperation surface;   a first wing extending from the second end of the first member and configured to engage an exterior of the bone when the first end of the first member is positioned in the bore formed in the anatomy;   a second member extending between a second member first end and a second member second end;   wherein the second member includes a second cooperation surface configured to engage the first cooperation surface;   wherein the second member is configured to be moved relative to the first member;   wherein the first wing cooperates with the bone to eliminate a selected movement of the first member.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first member is configured to be positioned at a first position in the bore;
 wherein the second member is configured to engage the first member and be positioned at a second position in the bore;   wherein the first wing is configured to maintain the first member in the first position in the bore.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a plurality of projections extending from the first side operable to engage the soft tissue; and   a valley defined between at least two of the plurality of projections.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said first end includes a rounded leading edge defining a V-shaped notch. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first wing extends from the first member away from the first cooperation surface to allow the second member to engage the first cooperation surface. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first member further comprises:
 a longitudinal edge extending from the first end to the second end; and   a depression in the longitudinal edge.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a driver configured to drive the second member relative to the first member in the anatomy.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 at least one notch defined at the first end of the first member.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one notch includes three notches that extend longitudinally of the first member and are substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the second member is a screw. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for fixation of a soft tissue within a bore formed in a bone of an anatomy, comprising:
 a first member extending between a first end and a second end and having a first side and a second side;   the first side includes a plurality of first projections configured to engage the soft tissue against the bore,   the second sides includes a cooperation surface configured to cooperate with a second member,   a first wing extending from the second end of the first member and configured to engage an exterior of the bone when the first end of the first member is positioned in the bore formed in the anatomy; and   the second member extending between a second member first end and a second member second end;   wherein the second member includes a second cooperation surface configured to engage the first cooperation surface;   wherein the second member is configured to be moved relative to the first member;   wherein the first wing cooperates with the bone to eliminate a selected movement of the first member;   wherein the first end of the first member includes a rounded nose.