SOFT TISSUE GRAFT AND METHOD

1 . A soft tissue graft comprising an elongated flexible body comprising:

a continuous, elongated, flexible, tubular jacket extending from a first end to a second end and having a uniform construction throughout its length, the jacket defining a first end portion adjacent the first end and an intermediate portion extending from the first end portion, the intermediate portion having a length in the range of 20-80% of the overall graft length, the first end portion having a first end portion cross-sectional area and the intermediate portion having an intermediate portion cross-sectional area, the cross-sectional area of the intermediate portion being greater than the cross-sectional area of first end portion; and

an elongated, flexible core positioned within the tubular jacket in the intermediate portion.

2 . The soft tissue graft of claim 1 further comprising a second end portion adjacent the second end, the second end portion having a second end portion cross-sectional area less than the intermediate portion cross-sectional area, the intermediate portion extending between the first and second end portions.

3 . The soft tissue graft of claim 1 wherein the jacket and core are separate, unjoined members.

4 . The soft tissue graft of claim 1 wherein the first end portion is more flexible than the intermediate portion.

5 . The soft tissue graft of claim 4 wherein the first end portion may be doubled over on itself and the doubled over cross-sectional area of first end portion is less than or equal to the cross-sectional area of the intermediate portion.

6 . The soft tissue graft of claim 2 wherein a first portion of the core is in the intermediate portion of the jacket, a second portion of the core extends into the first end portion, and a third portion of the core extends into the second end portion, each of the core portions having a cross-sectional area, the first and second portions of the core each having a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the first portion of the core.

7 . The soft tissue graft of claim 2 wherein the core is within the intermediate portion of the jacket and absent in the end portions of the jacket.

8 . The soft tissue graft of claim 1 wherein the jacket comprises braided biocompatible fibers.

9 . The soft tissue graft of claim 1 wherein the core comprises unbraided biocompatible fibers.

10 . A method of forming a soft tissue graft, the method comprising:

providing a graft precursor having a continuous, elongated, flexible, tubular jacket extending from a first end to a second end and having a uniform construction throughout its length surrounding a flexible core;

exposing the core at a first end portion;

removing at least a portion of the core from the first end portion;

tensioning the jacket to form a reduced cross section in the first end portion where the core has been removed.

11 . The method of claim 10 wherein the jacket is a textile comprising a network of biocompatible fibers.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the core comprises parallel biocompatible fibers.

13 . The method of claim 10 wherein exposing the core at a first end portion comprises compressing the jacket away from the end portion.

14 . The method of claim 10 wherein removing a portion of the core from the first end portion comprises removing the core completely from the first end portion.

15 . The method of claim 10 further comprising:

exposing the core at a second end portion;

removing at least a portion of the core from the second end portion;

tensioning the jacket to form a reduced cross section in the second end portion where the core has been removed.

16 . A method of reconstructing a connective soft tissue adjacent a joint, the method comprising:

folding a first end portion of a graft over a graft passer, the first end portion having a cross-sectional area less than an intermediate portion of the graft;

passing the folded first end portion into a first bone tunnel; and

advancing the folded first end portion to position a portion of the intermediate portion in the first bone tunnel.

17 . The method of claim 16 further comprising:

folding a second end portion of a graft over a graft passer, the second end portion having a cross-sectional area less than an intermediate portion of the graft;

passing the folded second end portion into a second bone tunnel; and

advancing the folded second end portion to position a portion of the intermediate portion in the second bone tunnel.

18 . The method of claim 17 wherein the first bone tunnel is formed in a metatarsal bone of a human foot and the second bone tunnel is formed in a proximal phalanx of a human foot.

19 . The method of claim 16 further comprising:

securing the graft in the bone tunnel.

20 . The method of claim 16 wherein the first bone tunnel is sized to fit closely around the intermediate portion.