Suture management and tensioning devices and methods for soft tissue reconstruction or bone-to-bone fixation

Abstract

An adjustable, stand-alone tensioning system requires no additional fixturing, weights, or bone surface modification, and allows a single practitioner to provide an adjustable and repeatable tension to a soft tissue graft, and to install the final fixation implant. Its design facilitates introduction of the suture component of the graft into the tensioning process by simplifying retention of the suture. An even, regulated and reproducible tension is easily achieved without requiring the practitioner to manually pull on the suture strands to maintain graft tension.

Description

[0001]This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of the filing date of Provisional U.S. Application Ser. No. 60 / 860,533, entitled Suture Management and Tensioning Device for Soft Tissue Reconstruction or Bone-to-Bone Fixation, filed on Nov. 21, 2006, which application is expressly and entirely incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to devices, systems and methods for material fixation, and, more particularly, to suture management and tensioning devices used during soft tissue reconstruction or bone-to-bone fixation that will assist in the repair of many soft tissue injuries, such as in the reconstruction of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL).[0003]Prior to completing the final steps of fixation during an ACL repair, the reconstructed ligament must be tensioned in order to establish joint stability. Current devices used to establish ligament pretension require the practitioner to apply and maintain a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The inventive device is an adjustable, standalone tensioning system that requires no additional fixturing, weights, or bone surface modification, and allows a single operator to provide an adjustable and repeatable tension to a soft tissue graft, and to install the final fixation implant. Its design facilitates introduction of the suture component of the graft into the tensioning process by simplifying retention of the suture. An even, regulated and reproducible tension is easily achieved without requiring the user to manually pull on the suture strands to maintain graft tension. Furthermore, the benefits of the device's suture management system, coupled with its ability to maintain tension on the graft, minimizes obstructions surrounding the installation site and eases installation of the final fixation implant. Therefore, most surgeons will be able to use the device without requiring additional assistance during the tensioning and final fixation procedure.

[0009]The present invention is a device that is easy to use, requires no additional accessories, uses only one drill hole, and can be implanted by one practitioner. A primary goal of the inventive system and methods is to provide a means of applying a repeatable, selectable graft tension without causing additional patient trauma and to minimize the number of steps and time required to complete the soft tissue graft fixation. The device requires fewer steps and less time to operate than current state-of-the-art devices in use.

[0010]Another primary goal of the inventive device is to minimize the probability that an additional assistant be required to complete the fixation of the soft tissue graft. The device is designed so that a high initial tension can be used by a single operator to cycle the knee and eliminate graft creep, then released and reset to another value if desired for final fixation.

Problems solved by technology

Devices relying on this technique have proven to be cumbersome, and oftentimes require time consuming steps to prepare the suture component of the tensioning process.

These devices also require unnecessary physical exertion, and often require an additional assistant during the final phases of graft fixation.

Furthermore, limitations in the range of motion of the device's swiveling suture slide can prohibit true equality in graft strand tension.

Images