Transosseous Guide And Method

Abstract

Instruments and methods for surgical transosseous attachment to a bone include a guide able to guide the formation of intersecting bone tunnels and a passer able to pass a member through the bone tunnels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for placing a member transosseously through first and second transverse, intersecting bone tunnels, the method comprising:
 inserting a first tunnel member into a bone along a first insertion axis, wherein a first longitudinal passage extends through the first tunnel member;   inserting a second tunnel member into the bone along a second insertion axis, the second insertion axis intersecting the first insertion axis, wherein a second longitudinal passage extends at least partway through the second tunnel member; and   inserting a passer through the first and second tunnel members in one continuous motion until the passer extends through the first longitudinal passage, the second longitudinal passage, out of a proximal end of the first tunnel member, and out of a proximal end of the second tunnel member.   
     
     
         2 . A system for placing a flexible member transosseously through first and second bone tunnels, the first and second bone tunnels oriented transverse to each other and intersecting one other, the system comprising:
 a guide body having a guide body handle portion and a longitudinal guide body passage;   a first tunnel member engaged with the guide body, wherein a first longitudinal passage extends through the first tunnel member, the first tunnel member having at least one curved portion nearer a distal end of the first tunnel member than a proximal end of the first tunnel member; and   a first guide axis associated with the distal end of the first tunnel member, wherein at least a portion of the first longitudinal passage near the distal end of the first tunnel member is coaxial with the first guide axis;   a second tunnel member engaged with the longitudinal guide body passage, wherein a second longitudinal passage extends at least partway through the second tunnel member, the second longitudinal passage coaxial with a second guide axis defined by the longitudinal guide body passage when the second tunnel member is engaged with the longitudinal guide body passage; and   a passer operable to extend from the proximal end of the first tunnel member, through the distal end of the first tunnel member, through a distal end of the second tunnel member, and to a proximal end of the second tunnel member in one continuous path.   
     
     
         3 . A system for placing a member transosseously through first and second bone tunnels, the system comprising:
 a guide body having a longitudinal guide body passage;   a first tunnel member engaged with the guide body, wherein a first longitudinal passage extends through the first tunnel member;   a second tunnel member engaged with the longitudinal guide body passage, wherein a second longitudinal passage extends at least partway through the second tunnel member; and a passer operable to extend from a proximal end of the first tunnel member, through a distal end of the first tunnel member, through a distal end of the second tunnel member, and to a proximal end of the second tunnel member in one continuous path.