Flexible ACL instrumentation, kit and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9795398-B2
Application number	US-201113085882-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2011
Priority date	Apr 13, 2011
Publication date	Oct 24, 2017
Grant date	Oct 24, 2017

Abstract

In a first embodiment, the present invention includes an instrument for use in preparing a femur for soft tissue repair or reconstruction, including a cannulated, curved guide tool having a cannulated body extending to a distal tip and a plane defined by a longitudinal axis of the cannulated body and distal tip; and a flange secured to the distal tip and extending from the distal tip in a direction transverse from the distal tip, the flange having a first curve along at least a portion of the flange and a degree of tilt, relative to the plane, along at least a portion of the flange. In an alternate embodiment, the present invention may also include a method of preparing a bone for reattachment of soft tissue thereto, including visualizing a reattachment site; selecting a guide tool from a plurality of cannulated curved guide tools, each of the plurality of guide tools having a distal tip that includes a flange; directing the distal tip of the selected guide tool towards the reattachment site; and placing the flange against the surrounding anatomy such that the distal tip is on the reattachment site.

First claim

We claim:

1. An instrument for use in preparing a femur for soft tissue repair or reconstruction, comprising:
a cannulated, curved guide tool having a cannulated body having a length extending between a proximal end and a distal tip defined by a rim of the cannulated body, the length also extending through a curve adjacent to the distal tip such that at least a first longitudinal axis extends through the guide tool adjacent to the distal tip and is transverse to a second longitudinal axis that extends through the guide tool adjacent to the proximal end, and wherein a plane is defined along the length of the cannulated body such that the plane is positioned through the proximal end, a point on the distal tip closest to the proximal end and the curve,
wherein the curve of the cannulated body extends toward the proximal end from the rim; and
a flange secured to the distal tip, extending from the distal tip and offset from the plane, the flange having a longitudinal shape defined by a first curve extending in at least a first direction along at least a first portion of the flange and a degree of tilt, relative to the plane, along at least a second portion of the flange wherein the second portion overlaps with the first portion,
wherein the flange includes a surface on the second portion at an oblique angle relative to the plane and defining the tilt relative to the plane.

2. The instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a second curve in at least a second direction, different from the first direction, along at least a portion of the flange.

3. The instrument of claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the flange includes both the first and second curves.

4. The instrument of claim 2 , wherein the first and second curves extend along substantially the same portion of the flange.

5. The instrument of claim 2 , wherein the first and second curves extend along different portions of the flange.

6. The instrument of claim 2 , wherein one end of the second curve is at an angle of between 0 degrees and 30 degrees relative to the plane.

7. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein one end of the first curve is at an angle between 0 degrees and 90 degrees relative to the first longitudinal axis of the guide tool adjacent to the distal tip.

8. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the degree of tilt is an angle between but not including 0 degrees and 90 degrees relative to the plane.

9. The instrument of claim 8 , wherein the angle of the degree of tilt is an angle of 45 degrees relative to the plane.

10. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the flange has a complex three-dimensional shape that substantially mimics the anatomy of a distal portion of the femur such that the flange is adapted to engage the anatomy along a substantial portion of the flange.

11. The instrument of claim 10 , wherein the shape substantially mimics an edge of a condyle on the distal portion of the femur.

12. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the cannulated, curved guide tool is adapted to accept a flexible drill pin through the cannulated body, wherein the flexible guide pin may exit out the distal tip and into bone.

13. The instrument of claim 12 , wherein the flange extends in a direction transverse to the flexible drill pin exiting from the distal tip of the cannulated body.

14. A method of preparing a bone for reattachment of soft tissue thereto, comprising: visualizing a reattachment site; selecting a guide tool from a plurality of cannulated curved guide tools, wherein each of the plurality of cannulated curved guide tools is as recited in claim 1 ; directing the distal tip of the selected guide tool towards the reattachment site; and placing the flange against and around surrounding anatomy such that the flange is adapted to support the distal tip of the guide tool by wrapping around a condyle, an edge of the condyle, or adjacent to the condyle of the bone, allowing anatomy of the bone to rest within a surface of the flange, and the distal tip is on the reattachment site.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the flange has a complex three-dimensional surface which substantially mimics the surrounding anatomy.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising a cannulated body, of the cannulated curved guide tool, extending to the distal tip.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising inserting a flexible drill pin through the cannulated body such that it exits from the distal tip and projects into the reattachment site on the bone.

Assignees

• Steiner Mark
• Pilgeram Kyle Craig
• West Raymond
• Wyman Jeffrey
• Oren Ran
• Zakai Eran
• Rash Elad
• Howmedica Osteonics Corp

Inventors

• Steiner Mark
• Pilgeram Kyle Craig
• West Raymond
• Wyman Jeffrey
• Oren Ran
• Zakai Eran
• Rash Elad

Classifications

• A61B17/1631

  Special drive shafts, e.g. flexible shafts (A61B17/1642, A61B17/164 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61B17/1714

  for applying tendons or ligaments (implements for applying tendons or ligaments A61F2/0805) · CPC title

• A61B17/1615

  Drill bits, i.e. rotating tools extending from a handpiece to contact the worked material · CPC title

• A61B17/1764 Primary

  for the knee · CPC title