Ligament graft apparatus and method
US4950271A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 6, 1989 |
| Grant date | Aug 21, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 6, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B90/06
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A knee reconstruction apparatus and method provides for controlling and adjusting the point of fixation of a ligament graft, for example a replacement for the anterior cruciate ligament, which permits precisely and repeatably adjusting the length of the ligament graft or graft components with the joint under a prescribed load prior to fixation. A fixture is fixed on the tibia and includes an adjustable clamp that holds a ligament graft anchored or held in the femur. The clamp can be moved for adjusting the length of the ligament graft, or individual segments of a composite ligament graft while the joint is under a prescribed load. The load carried by one or more individual graft components also can be measured prior to fixation to ensure that each of the segments of a composite ligament graft will carry the desired or selected load for a joint under a prescribed load.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.