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Publication Number
US-12310839-B2
Publication Date
2025-05-27
Expiration Date
Abstract
An anchoring system for a knee ligament reconstruction that can secure a graft within a bone tunnel. The anchor system includes an anchor having a tubular body extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end. A conical head is fixed to the distal end of the tubular body. A series of expandable segments are positioned along the tubular body and moveable along the body into a compacted, deployed position where the segments expand radially to engage the inside of a bone tunnel. A threaded drive member may move the segments to the deployed configuration once the anchor and graft are positioned in the bone tunnel. A drive tool may be used to advance the drive member and can include a moveable shaft that pushes a strike plate out of the rear of the handle to provide an indication whether the anchor has been fully deployed.
Core Innovation
An anchor system for knee ligament reconstruction includes a tubular body extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end and a conical head fixed to the distal end of the tubular body. The conical head carries graft-support scallops, and a plurality of expandable segments are positioned along an intermediate portion of the tubular body and are spaced apart in an un-deployed configuration where the plurality of expandable segments are radially contracted.
In a deployed configuration, the plurality of expandable segments are compacted together against the conical head and expanded radially. The distal leading end of at least one expandable segment is positioned within a proximal trailing end of another expandable segment, such that the expandable segments become compacted together while expanding radially toward deployment.
A threaded drive member engages the tubular body to advance and compact the plurality of expandable segments against the conical head, transitioning them from the un-deployed configuration to the deployed configuration. A driver tool includes an inner non-circular geometry that mates with a non-circular outer geometry of the drive member to rotate the drive member, and the driver tool further includes a spring-biased moveable depth shaft that drives a strike plate for visual indication of full deployment.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover an anchor system with a tubular body and conical head, multiple expandable segments transitioning from an un-deployed configuration to a deployed configuration, and a threaded proximal portion that works with a drive member for deployment. The independent-claim content also supports the drive mechanism and its deployment indication features.
Tubular body with conical head and expandable segments transition
A tubular body along a longitudinal axis with a conical head fixed to the distal end, and a plurality of expandable segments positioned along an intermediate portion and moveable between an un-deployed configuration with radially contracted spaced segments and a deployed configuration where the segments are compacted together against the conical head and expanded radially, with inter-engaging distal leading and proximal trailing ends between expandable segments.
First set of threads on tubular body proximal end
A first set of threads disposed on an outer surface of the proximal end of the tubular body.
The provided independent-claim coverage centers on the structure and configuration transition of multiple expandable segments compacted against a conical head, together with threaded engagement at the proximal end of the tubular body. The additional material further defines drive-member thread matching, conical-head graft-support scallops, and drive-tool rotation and visual deployment indication features.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
Knee ligament reconstruction using an expanding knee-ligament anchor/interference fixation device with a graft secured by the anchor system.
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