Systems and methods for ligament graft preparation
Systems and methods for preparing a ligament graft for a ligament reconstruction procedure are provided. In general, the described techniques utilize a graft preparation system having a holder and a delivery suture assembly removably coupled thereto. The delivery suture assembly can include a spine coupled with an anchor suture configured to form a self-tightening knot used to position the assembly around a graft and a plurality of suture windings configured to be affixed to the graft when the assembly is deployed. The assembly is delivered to the graft using the holder and the sutures can be affixed to the graft without penetrating therethrough. The spine helps to evenly distribute the load among the windings compressing the graft which are thus are capable of withstanding increased loads. Thus, an improved, simplified, and time- and labor-saving approach to preparing ligament grafts is provided.
1 . A graft preparation system comprising:
a holder defined by a first portion pivotably coupled to a second portion along a longitudinal axis that extends along an inner surface of the holder, the holder being configured to pivot between an open position and a closed position in which the inner surface engages a portion of a graft with the inner surface between the first portion and the second portion;
a spine removably seated along the inner surface parallel to the longitudinal axis; and
a plurality of windings formed from a suture and spaced longitudinally along the spine, each winding of the plurality of windings being removably disposed along the inner surface of the holder,
wherein the holder positions the plurality of windings around the portion of the graft without penetrating the graft in the closed position.
2 . The graft preparation system of claim 1 , wherein the spine further comprises at least one attachment element formed along the spine.
3 . The graft preparation system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one attachment element comprises an eyelet configured to receive a winding of the plurality of windings therethrough.
4 . The graft preparation system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the spine and the plurality of windings is removably coupled to the inner surface of the holder.
5 . The graft preparation system of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of windings are removably coupled to the holder by extending through the first and second portions of the holder at a plurality of locations, a portion of each winding at the plurality of locations extending through the inner surface to an outer surface of the holder.
6 . The graft preparation system of claim 5 , wherein the suture that forms the plurality of windings extends across the inner surface of the holder between the first and second portions to form a criss-crossing pattern.
7 . The graft preparation system of claim 1 , wherein the open position further comprises the first and second portions of the holder being oriented at an angle that is perpendicular or greater relative to one another about the pivotal coupling.
8 . The graft preparation system of claim 1 , wherein the holder has a substantially rectangular shape in the open position.
9 . The graft preparation system of claim 1 , wherein a terminal end of the first portion and a terminal end of the second portion contact a surface of the portion of the graft in the closed position.
10 . The graft preparation system of claim 1 , wherein the suture includes first and second tails configured to extend out from the holder in the closed position.
11 . The graft preparation system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions of the holder are deformable.
12 . The graft preparation system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions are configured to deform around the portion of the graft in the closed position.
13 . The graft preparation system of claim 1 , wherein the graft is disposed between the suture and the inner surface in the open position.
14 . The graft preparation system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of windings penetrate the holder at a plurality of locations along the inner surfaces of the first and second portions.
15 . The graft preparation system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of locations are disposed on the first and second portions opposite of one another.