IP Library Granted Patent US 8,740,939
Granted Patent B2
US 8,740,939 · App. 13/350,983 · Granted Jun 3, 2014

Method and apparatus for soft tissue fixation

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,740,939
App. No.
13/350,983
Granted
Jun 3, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A positioning member may be released to move an anchor member to a holding position. The positioning member being operable to be held in a selected orientation until the anchor member is in a selected position.

Claims (53)

1. A method of holding a graft in a selected position relative to a portion of an anatomy with an anchor comprising:

forming a bore in a bone;

positioning the anchor relative to the bone;

passing a graft engaging member through the bore;

engaging a graft with the graft engaging member; and

moving the graft through the bore with the graft engaging member by moving the graft engaging member with an activation member relative to the positioned anchor so as to reduce the length of the graft engaging member.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

fixing a first end of the graft with the anchor; and

fixing a second end of the graft with a second anchor member.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein moving the graft includes using a selection portion to select a size for the graft engaging member;

wherein selecting a size for the graft engaging member includes moving the graft engaging member through the bore.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

tensioning the graft relative to the bone; and

setting the anchor relative to the bore;

wherein tensioning the graft assists in the setting the anchor relative to the bore.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

moving the anchor through the bore in a first orientation; and

moving the anchor to a second orientation after removing it from the bore.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

extending the activation member through the bore in the bone by at least one of pulling the activation member through the bore, holding the activation member while moving the anchor through the bore, or combinations thereof.

7. A method of holding a graft in a selected position relative to a portion of an anatomy with an anchor comprising:

passing the anchor through a bore in a bone in a first position;

arranging a graft over a flexible member slidably connected to the anchor one of before or after passing the anchor through the bore;

rotating the anchor from the first position to a second position outside of the bore and arranging the anchor such that the anchor extends across the bore;

moving the graft within the bore by moving the flexible member relative to the anchor in the second position with an activation member to reduce the length of the flexible member;

tensioning the graft within the bore; and

retaining the graft in the bore.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein tensioning the graft includes sliding the flexible member through a port defined within the anchor.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein tensioning the graft includes sliding the flexible member through at least one of two parallel ports defined within the anchor.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the graft is arranged over a graft engagement portion of the flexible member.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the activation member includes an activation end of the flexible member; and

further comprising tensioning the graft by pulling the activation end of the flexible member, the activation end is opposite to the graft engagement portion.

12. The method of claim 7 , further comprising retaining the graft in the bore by arranging a cross-member of the anchor across the bore.

13. The method of claim 7 , further comprising passing the anchor through the bore by pulling a movement member through the bore, the movement member seated in a guide arranged at an end of a cross-member of the anchor.

14. A method of holding a graft in a selected position relative to a portion of an anatomy with an anchor comprising:

passing the anchor through a bore in a bone in a first position in which a longitudinal axis extending from a first end of a cross-member of the anchor to a second end of the cross-member is generally aligned with a center axis of the bore;

arranging a graft over a flexible member slidably connected to the anchor one of before or after passing the anchor through the bore, the flexible member arranged between the first end and the second end of the longitudinal axis;

rotating the anchor from the first position to a second position outside of the bore and arranging the cross-member across the bore;

moving the graft within the bore by moving the flexible member with an activation portion of the flexible member relative to the anchor in the second position to reduce the length of the flexible member;

tensioning the graft within the bore by pulling on the activation portion of the flexible member; and

retaining the graft in the bore.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein tensioning the graft includes sliding the flexible member through a pair of ports arranged in parallel and defined within the anchor.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein tensioning the graft includes sliding the flexible member through the pair of ports that extend generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the graft is arranged over a graft engagement portion of the flexible member that is opposite to the activation portion of the flexible member.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising passing the anchor through the bore by pulling a movement member through the bore, the movement member is threaded through an opening in the cross-member that extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein pulling the movement member includes pulling a suture.

20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising passing the anchor through the bore by pulling a movement member secured to the first end of the cross-member, and passing the first end through the bore before the second end.

21. The method of claim 14 , further comprising arranging the graft over the flexible member slidably connected to a collar portion of the anchor, the collar portion extending from the cross-member.

22. The method of claim 14 , wherein the bore in the bone is a first bore formed in a first bone, the method further comprising:

forming a second bore in a second bone, the second bore aligned with the first bore;

passing the anchor and the graft through the second bore; and

retaining the graft by affixing the graft to the second bone at an exterior of the second bore.

23. The method of claim 14 , further comprising arranging the graft over a graft support member.

Assignments (7)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2018
From: BIOMET SPORTS MEDICINE, LLC
To: BIOMET U.S. RECONSTRUCTION, LLC
Reel/Frame 045935/0497 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2018
From: BIOMET U.S. RECONSTRUCTION, LLC
To: BIOMET, INC.
Reel/Frame 045935/0557 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2018
From: BIOMET, INC.
To: ZB MANUFACTURING, LLC
Reel/Frame 045935/0570 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2018
From: ZB MANUFACTURING, LLC
To: BIOMET MANUFACTURING, LLC
Reel/Frame 045935/0673 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2012
From: STONE, KEVIN T.; KAISER, RYAN A.; SAUTTER, NATHAN M.
To: ARTHROTEK, INC.
Reel/Frame 027539/0943 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 17, 2012
From: BIOMET SPORTS MEDICINE, INC.
To: BIOMET SPORTS MEDICINE, LLC
Reel/Frame 027540/0122 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 17, 2012
From: ARTHROTEK, INC.
To: BIOMET SPORTS MEDICINE, INC.
Reel/Frame 027540/0533 →