Tissue graft fixation

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a graft fixation device including a body configured and arranged for passage through a bone tunnel when oriented generally longitudinally with respect to the bone tunnel, and for residing against bone defining an opening to the bone tunnel when oriented generally transversely with respect to the bone tunnel. The body defines an enclosed channel for receiving a member such that the member is substantially evenly distributed about a longitudinal extent of the body so that the body maintains a generally longitudinal orientation during passage through the tunnel, and includes a cross bar about which the member is looped when the body resides against the bone defining the opening to the bone tunnel.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method, comprising:
 looping a graft through an opening in a graft fixation device; and   pulling the graft fixation device and looped graft through a bone tunnel, the graft fixation device being configured such that the graft fixation device is maintained substantially longitudinally oriented relative to the tunnel while being pulled through the bone tunnel.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 looping grafts through openings in multiple graft fixation devices;   drilling multiple bone tunnels extending in a generally lateral direction through a knee joint; and   pulling the graft fixation devices and looped grafts through the multiple bone tunnels, the graft fixation devices being configured such that each graft fixation device is maintained substantially longitudinally oriented relative to the tunnels while being pulled through the tunnels.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising drilling at least one bone tunnel extending in a generally lateral direction through a knee joint. 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 providing a graft fixation device comprising an intermediate portion including a rotatable hinge coupled to the intermediate portion, the hinge and the intermediate portion defining a channel configured for receiving a tissue graft;   drilling a bone tunnel extending in a generally lateral direction through a knee joint;   looping a tissue graft through the channel; and   pulling the graft fixation device and looped graft through the bone tunnel, the graft fixation device being configured such that the graft fixation device is maintained substantially longitudinally oriented relative to the tunnel while being pulled through the bone tunnel.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising rotating the hinge relative to the fixation member and placing the fixation member over an opening to the bone tunnel such that the hinge extends into the bone tunnel. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the graft fixation device further comprises a first end portion including at least one hole and a second end portion including at least one hole. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising:
 providing multiple graft fixation devices, each graft fixation device comprising an intermediate portion having a rotatable hinge coupled to the intermediate portion, the hinge and the intermediate portion defining a channel configured for receiving a tissue graft; 
 drilling multiple bone tunnels extending in a generally lateral direction through a knee joint; 
 looping a tissue graft through each of the channels of the multiple graft fixation devices; and 
 pulling the graft fixation devices and looped grafts through the multiple bone tunnels, the graft fixation devices being con figured such that each graft fixation device is maintained substantially longitudinally oriented relative to the tunnels while being pulled through the tunnels. 
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein each of the graft fixation devices further comprise a first end portion including at least one hole and a second end portion including at least one hole. 
     
     
         26 . A method comprising:
 providing a graft fixation device comprising an intermediate portion including at least two tabs, the tabs extending transverse to the intermediate portion, the intermediate portion including at least one hole, the hole being located between the tabs and including a continuous loop of material;   drilling a bone tunnel extending in a generally lateral direction through a knee joint;   looping a tissue graft through the continuous loop of material such that the tissue graft is situated between the tabs; and   pulling the graft fixation device and looped graft through the bone tunnel, the graft fixation device being configured such that the graft fixation device is maintained substantially longitudinally oriented relative to the tunnel while being pulled through the bone tunnel.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  placing the fixation member over an opening to the bone tunnel such that the tabs extend in to the bone tunnel. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the graft fixation device further comprises a first end portion including at least one hole and a second end portion including at least one hole. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the material comprises suture. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising:
 providing multiple graft fixation devices, each graft fixation device comprising a an intermediate portion having at least two tabs, the tabs extending transverse to the intermediate port ion, the intermediate portion including at least one hole, the hole being located between the tabs and including a continuous loop of material; 
 drilling multiple bone tunnels extending in a generally lateral direction through a knee joint; 
 looping a tissue graft through each of the continuous loops of material such that the tissue graft is situated between the tabs of each of the graft fixation devices; 
 pulling the graft fixation devices and looped grafts through the bone tunnels, the graft fixation devices being configured such that each graft fixation device is maintained substantially longitudinally oriented relative to the tunnels while being pulled through the tunnels. 
 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein each of the graft fixation devices further comprise a first end portion including at least one hole and a second end portion including at least one hole. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the material comprises suture. 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled)