System and method for preparing a soft tissue graft

Inventors

Kam, Andrew • Lombardo, Giuseppe

Assignees

Conmed Corp

Abstract

A system and method for loading a suture construct on a soft tissue graft with a graft assembly. The graft assembly includes a suture construct having a closed end and an open end; a first tail of suture and a second tail of suture positioned adjacent to the open end; a first closed loop positioned at the closed end formed from the first and second tails of suture; a first splice formed by the first tail in the second tail between the closed loop and the open end; a second closed loop formed from the first and second tails of suture between the splice and the open end; and a second splice formed by the first tail in the second tail between the second closed loop and the open end.

Core Innovation

A graft assembly and graft preparation system are described for loading a suture construct onto a soft tissue graft using a frame. The frame includes a lumen and channels, and uses removable pins to position the suture construct so that suture can be threaded through channels. After positioning, the trap is released, and the soft tissue graft is provided with a suture-based pattern intended to collapse radially onto the graft.

The described suture construct is configured to create an opposing double helical spacing pattern. The weaving of suture through the channels forms the opposing double helical pattern such that, when the trap collapses, the pattern radially compresses the graft. This is described as improving graft-to-bone contact by using the collapsing suture pattern to secure the graft.

Alternative embodiments of the trap are described using closed loops and splices formed from a suture construct having a closed end and an open end. In one embodiment, a folded single-strand suture forms closed loops with splices, optionally supported by a hollow tube passing through the loops. In another embodiment, a trap is made from a continuous length of suture having a sliding limb and splices to form adjustable loops, including a sliding spacer with fingers that create channels and reduce friction during collapse.

Claims Coverage

The provided independent claim defines a graft assembly formed from a suture construct with a closed end and an open end, including loop-and-splice structure. Across dependent claims, additional inventive features include the use of a hollow tube and specific geometric and structural limitations relating to an inner lumen, graft passage through the lumen, and constraints on loop orientation; other dependents add additional splices and closed loops.

The claim set centers on a suture construct that forms first and second closed loops at a closed end using first and second tails, with splices formed on one side of each loop by the first tail extending over a predetermined length within the second tail. Dependent claims further require a hollow tube passing through the loops, constrain loop orientation relative to a tube axis, specify an inner lumen and optional graft extension through that lumen, and extend the loop-and-splice concept by adding additional splices and additional closed loops.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications