APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RECONSTRUCTING A LIGAMENT

1 - 21 . (canceled)

22 . A method for securing a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, comprising the steps of:

(1) looping a graft ligament through a graft hole in a graft ligament support block, advancing the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel, withdrawing the graft ligament support block back down the bone tunnel, advancing a graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel, with a graft ligament being looped through a graft hole in the graft ligament support block, and forming a transverse tunnel in the host bone, with a transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block being aligned with the transverse tunnel in the host bone; and

(2) pinning the graft ligament support block within the bone tunnel by advancing a transverse fixation pin along the transverse tunnel in the host bone and into the transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block.

23 . A method according to claim 22 wherein an installation tool is used to advance the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel.

24 . A method according to claim 23 wherein the graft ligament support block is withdrawn from the bone tunnel by pulling back on the graft ligament.

25 . A method according to claim 23 wherein the two free ends of the graft ligament are secured to the installation tool prior to advancing the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel.

26 . A method according to claim 23 wherein the installation tool is used to form the transverse tunnel in the host bone.

27 . A method according to claim 22 wherein a tow suture is used to advance the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel.

28 . A method for revising a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, said method comprising the steps of:

unpinning a graft ligament support block within a bone tunnel by withdrawing a transverse fixation pin from a transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block and from a transverse tunnel a host bone;

withdrawing the graft ligament support block back down the bone tunnel;

advancing a graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel so that a transverse fixation pin hole in the support block is aligned with the transverse tunnel; and

pinning the graft ligament support block within the bone tunnel by advancing the transverse fixation pin along the transverse tunnel in the host bone and into the transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block.

29 . A method according to claim 28 wherein the graft ligament support block is withdrawn from the bone tunnel by pulling back on a graft ligament attached to the graft ligament support block.

30 . A method according to claim 28 wherein the installation tool is used to advance the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel.

31 . A method according to claim 30 wherein the two free ends of the graft ligament are secured to the installation tool prior to advancing the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel.

32 - 52 . (canceled)

53 . A method for securing a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, comprising the steps of:

selecting a graft ligament support block with a graft hole sized substantially equal to a given cross-sectional dimension of a graft ligament;

looping the graft ligament through the graft hole in a graft ligament support block;

advancing the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel;

forming a transverse tunnel in the host bone, with a transverse tunnel being aligned with a transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block; and

pinning the graft ligament support block within the bone tunnel by advancing a transverse fixation pin along the transverse tunnel in the host bone and into the transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block.

54 . A method according to claim 53 wherein an installation tool is used to advance the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel.

55 . A method according to claim 53 wherein the two free ends of the graft ligament are secured to the installation tool prior to advancing the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel.

56 . A method according to claim 53 wherein the installation tool is used to form the transverse tunnel in the host bone.

57 . A method according to claim 53 wherein a tow suture is used to advance the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel.

58 . A method for securing a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, said method comprising the steps of:

forming a transverse tunnel in the host bone;

selecting a graft ligament support block with a graft hole sized substantially equal to a given cross-sectional dimension of a graft ligament;

looping the graft ligament through the graft hole in the graft ligament support block;

advancing the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel so that a transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block is aligned with the transverse tunnel; and

pinning the graft ligament support block within the bone tunnel by advancing a transverse fixation pin along the transverse tunnel in the host bone and into the transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block.

59 . A method according to claim 58 wherein an installation tool is used to advance the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel.

60 . A method according to claim 58 wherein the two free ends of the graft ligament are secured to the installation tool prior to advancing the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel.

61 - 84 . (canceled)

85 . A method for revising a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, comprising the steps of:

engaging an internal tapped hole in transverse fixation pin with a removal tool;

withdrawing the transverse fixation pin from the bone tunnel with the removal tool engaged with the internal tapped hole, and withdrawing a graft ligament support block back down the bone tunnel;

positioning a graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel;

pinning the graft ligament support block within the bone tunnel by advancing a transverse fixation pin along a transverse tunnel in the host bone and into the transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block.

86 . A method according to claim 85 wherein the installation tool is used to advance the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel.

87 . A method according to claim 86 wherein the two free ends of the graft ligament are secured to the installation tool prior to advancing the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel.

88 . A method according to claim 85 wherein a tow suture is used to advance the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel.

89 - 109 . (canceled)

110 . A method for securing a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, comprising the steps of:

looping a graft ligament through a graft hole in a graft ligament support block;

advancing the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel;

forming a stepped transverse tunnel in the host bone with a stepped transverse tunnel drill, with the stepped transverse tunnel being aligned with a transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block; and

pinning the graft ligament support block within the bone tunnel by advancing a stepped transverse fixation pin along the transverse tunnel in the host bone and into the transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block.

111 . A method according to claim 110 wherein an installation tool is used to advance the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel.

112 . A method according to claim 111 wherein the two free ends of the graft ligament are secured to the installation tool prior to advancing the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel.

113 . A method according to claim 112 wherein the installation tool is used together with the stepped transverse tunnel drill to form the stepped transverse tunnel in the host bone.

114 . A method according to claim 110 wherein a tow suture is used to advance the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel.

115 . A method for securing a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, said method comprising the steps of:

forming a stepped transverse tunnel in the host bone with a stepped transverse tunnel drill;

looping a graft ligament through a graft hole in a graft ligament support block;

advancing the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel so that a transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block is aligned with the stepped transverse tunnel; and pinning the graft ligament support block within the bone tunnel by advancing a stepped transverse fixation pin along the stepped transverse tunnel in the host bone and into the transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block.

116 . A method according to claim 115 wherein an installation tool is used to advance the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel.

117 . A method according to claim 116 wherein the two free ends of the graft ligament are secured to the installation tool prior to advancing the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel.

118 - 136 . (canceled)

137 . A method for securing a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, comprising the steps of:

looping a graft ligament through a graft hole in a graft ligament support block;

advancing the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel;

positioning a drill guide in attachment to the graft support block, the drill guide comprising an outrigger and a drill sleeve movably attached to the outrigger, and the drill sleeve having depth markers thereon;

determining a proper transverse tunnel depth with the drill sleeve and the outrigger by moving the drill sleeve within the outrigger toward the bone tunnel and reading the depth markers on the drill sleeve;

forming a transverse tunnel in the host bone to a proper transverse tunnel depth by drilling a transverse tunnel drill to a given depth according to markers disposed on thereon, with the transverse tunnel being aligned with a transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block; and

pinning the graft ligament support block within the bone tunnel by advancing a transverse fixation pin along the transverse tunnel in the host bone and into the transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block.

138 . A method according to claim 137 wherein an installation tool is used to advance the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel.

139 . A method according to claim 137 wherein the two free ends of the graft ligament are secured to the installation tool prior to advancing the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel.

140 . A method according to claim 137 wherein the installation tool is used to form the transverse tunnel in the host bone.

141 . A method according to claim 137 wherein a tow suture is used to advance the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel.

142 . A method for securing a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, said method comprising the steps of:

positioning a drill guide in attachment to a reamer inserted into the bone tunnel, the drill guide comprising an outrigger and a drill sleeve movably attached to the outrigger, and the drill sleeve having depth markers thereon;

determining a proper transverse tunnel depth with the drill sleeve and the outrigger by moving the drill sleeve within the outrigger toward the bone tunnel and reading the depth markers on the drill sleeve;

forming a transverse tunnel in the host bone to a proper transverse tunnel depth by drilling a transverse tunnel drill to a given depth according to markers disposed thereon;

removing the reamer from the bone tunnel;

looping a graft ligament through a graft hole in a graft ligament support block;

advancing the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel so that a transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block is aligned with the transverse tunnel; and

pinning the graft ligament support block within the bone tunnel by advancing a transverse fixation pin along the transverse tunnel in the host bone and into the transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block.

143 . A method according to claim 142 wherein an installation tool is used to advance the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel.

144 . A method according to claim 142 wherein the two free ends of the graft ligament are secured to the installation tool prior to advancing the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel.

145 - 152 . (canceled)

153 . A method for securing a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, comprising the steps of:

looping a graft ligament through a graft hole in a graft ligament support block;

advancing the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel;

determining a proper transverse tunnel depth by reading a position of a first set of depth markers on a drill sleeve relative to an outrigger;

forming a transverse tunnel in the host bone using a transverse tunnel drill having a second set of depth markers thereon so as to drill said transverse tunnel to said proper transverse tunnel depth, with a transverse tunnel being aligned with a transverse

fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block; and

pinning the graft ligament support block within the bone tunnel by selecting a transverse fixation pin based on the proper transverse tunnel depth determined by the first set of depth markers on the drill sleeve and advancing the selected transverse fixation pin along the transverse tunnel in the host bone and into the transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block.

154 . A method for securing a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, said method comprising the steps of:

determining a proper transverse tunnel depth by reading a position of a first set of depth markers on a drill sleeve relative to an outrigger;

forming a transverse tunnel in the host bone using a transverse tunnel drill having a second set of depth markers thereon so as to drill said transverse tunnel to said proper transverse tunnel depth;

looping a graft ligament through a graft hole in a graft ligament support block;

advancing the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel so that a transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block is aligned with the transverse tunnel; and

pinning the graft ligament support block within the bone tunnel by selecting a transverse fixation pin based on the proper transverse tunnel depth determined by the first set of depth markers on the drill sleeve and advancing a transverse fixation pin along the transverse tunnel in the host bone and into the transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block.

155 . A method for securing a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, comprising the steps of:

looping a graft ligament through a graft hole in a graft ligament support block;

advancing the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel;

forming a transverse tunnel in the host bone to a

predetermined depth using a transverse tunnel drill having a stop element at a predetermined distance from a distal end of said transverse tunnel drill, said stop element configured to engage a drill sleeve so as to limit drilling to said predetermined depth, with said transverse tunnel being aligned with a transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block; and

pinning the graft ligament support block within the bone tunnel by advancing a transverse fixation pin along the transverse tunnel in the host bone and into the transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block.

156 . A method for securing a graft ligament in a bone tunnel, said method comprising the steps of:

forming a transverse tunnel in the host bone to a predetermined depth using a transverse tunnel drill having a stop element at a predetermined distance from a distal end of said transverse tunnel drill, said stop element configured to engage a drill sleeve so as to limit drilling to said predetermined depth;

looping a graft ligament through a graft hole in a graft ligament support block;

advancing the graft ligament support block into the bone tunnel so that a transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block is aligned with the transverse tunnel; and

pinning the graft ligament support block within the bone tunnel by advancing a transverse fixation pin along the transverse tunnel in the host bone and into the transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block.

157 . (canceled)