Flexible surgical screwdriver and methods of arthroscopic ligament reconstruction
US5797918A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 6, 1995 |
| Grant date | Aug 25, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 6, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2090/033
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A surgical screwdriver for inserting bone screws in bone tunnels in ligament reconstruction has, in a preferred embodiment, a cannulated flexible shaft portion. The flexible shaft portion is formed by a plurality of linkage members disposed in series. Each linkage member is joined to an adjacent linkage member so as to permit adjacent linkage members to be pivotally movable with respect to one another about a pivot axis. The screwdriver is used in methods of arthroscopic cruciate ligament reconstruction including the steps of introducing the screwdriver along a guide wire through a portal that is offset from the longitudinal axis of a bone tunnel and driving an interference screw mounted on the driver in the bone tunnel to fixate a bone block in the bone tunnel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.