Fixation Device and Method for Soft Tissue Grafts
An expandable medical device for surgical implantation that secures the ends of a soft tissue graft in a tunnel made in bone, such as in ligament replacements. The graft material is positioned between the bone and the flexible portion of the fork component with intimate contact with the bone surface during the device expansion. Movement of a plug component into the fork component causes expansion of the device perpendicular to the bone tunnel. The device expansion is also perpendicular to the graft, so the axial tension of the graft does not change during the expansion process and can be monitored during surgery immediately before the expansion process. Expansion within the bone tunnel causes stabilization of the device, maximizes the graft-bone contact, and secures the graft without the device being substantially installed on the exterior surface of the bone or compromising the cortical bone surface outside of the bone tunnel.
Attached files:Patents:WO 2,009,132,341
Inventor(s):
CONNOR CHRISTOPHER B [US]; BEYNNON BRUCE D [US]; JOHNSON BRANDON [US]; LANKOWSKI MATTHEW [US]; MORIN CHARLES W [US]; NGUYEN HUY
Type of Offer:
Licensing
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