Process of endosteal fixation of a ligament

Abstract

A cannulated interference screw (10) and process for human implantation in an arthroscopic surgical procedure for replacement of a ligament, or the like. The interference screw is provided with a drill end (11) that extends longitudinally from an end of a cylindrical body (14), which drill end includes equally spaced flutes (12) therearound. The flutes extend into first and second cutting threads (15a) and (15b), respectively which cutting threads and threads (15) are formed around the cylindrical body. A center longitudinal passage (16) is formed through the interference screw drill end and cylindrical body, which passage is stepped outwardly within the cylindrical body into a hexagonal sided section (18) that is for receiving a sided end (20) of a driver (19) that is fitted therein. In practice, the cannulated interference screw is installed by sliding it along a guide rod (25) that is fitted in a prepared ligament tunnel (22) through a bone mass, alongside a bone block portion of a ligament (23) within the bone endosteum, which ligament is maintained in that tunnel under tension. The driver is also holed longitudinally to travel along the guide rod to fit into and turn the interference screw, providing fixation of the ligament in that tunnel.

We claim: .[. 
     
       1.  A process of endosteal fixation of a ligament within the interior of a bone mass comprising, forming a ligament tunnel through adjacent bone masses; fitting a ligament under tension in said ligament tunnel, extending between said adjacent bone masses; and turning a threaded device into one end of said ligament tunnel, guiding it alongside the ligament, such that the threads of said threaded device turn into said tunnel wall and a bone block end portion of said ligament..]. 
     
     
       2. A process of endosteal fixation .[.as recited in claim 1.]. .Iadd.of a ligament within the interior of a bone mass comprising, forming a ligament tunnel through adjacent bone masses; fitting a ligament under tension in said ligament tunnel, extending between said adjacent bone masses; and turning a threaded device into one end of said ligament tunnel, guiding it alongside the ligament, such that the threads of said threaded device turn into a wall of said tunnel and a bone block end portion of said ligament.Iaddend., wherein the threaded device is cannulated and is .[.arranged for travel and turning.]. .Iadd.guided .Iaddend.along a guide wire that is fitted into the ligament tunnel, alongside the ligament. .[.3. A process of endosteal fixation as recited in claim 1, wherein the threaded device has a threaded body and includes a drill extending from one or a first end with an arrangement for fitting a driver formed in the 
     
     
        other or second end..]. 4. A process of endosteal fixation .[.as recited in claim 3.]. .Iadd.of a ligament within the interior of a bone mass comprising, forming a ligament tunnel through adjacent bone masses; fitting a ligament under tension in said ligament tunnel, extending between said adjacent bone masses; and turning a threaded device into one end of said ligament tunnel, guiding it alongside the ligament, such that the threads of said threaded device turn into a wall of said tunnel and a bone block end portion of said ligament.Iaddend., wherein .Iadd.the threaded device has a threaded body and includes a drill extending from one or a first end with an arrangement for fitting a driver formed in the other or second end and .Iaddend.the threaded device and driver are both cannulated .[.to travel.]. .Iadd.and guided .Iaddend.along a guide wire that is .[.for fitting.]. .Iadd.fitted .Iaddend.into the ligament tunnel, alongside the bone block end portion of the ligament. .Iadd.5. A process of endosteal fixation of a ligament within the interior of a knee comprising: forming a tunnel, having an interior wall, through a tibia and an adjacent femur;   fitting a ligament secured between two bone blocks into said tunnel;   fitting a guide wire into said tunnel alongside one of said bone blocks;   telescoping a cannulated interference screw over said guide wire;   telescoping a cannulated driver over said guide wire to engage a rear end of said interference screw with said driver; and   turning said driver so as to turn said interference screw causing cutting threads on said interference screw to dig into the tunnel wall and said   
     
     
        one of said bone blocks. .Iaddend. .Iadd.6.  A method according to claim 2, wherein the threaded device has a generally cylindrical body and threads formed about the body from a last thread extending from the rear of the body to a first thread, the first thread having a smaller outer diameter than the last thread, and wherein the threads form the radially outermost projection from the body. .Iaddend. .Iadd.7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the interference screw has a generally cylindrical body and threads formed about the body from a last thread extending from the rear of the body to a first thread, the first thread having a smaller outer diameter than the last thread, and wherein the threads form the radially outermost projection from the body. .Iaddend.