Patent ID: 9572655
Date: 2017-02-21
CPC Classifications: A61B,A61F

Claim:
1. A method for placing an ACL in a femoral tunnel formed in a femur in a patient, the method comprising: delivering a fixation member through a femoral tunnel to a location outside the femur proximate a first opening in an outer surface of the femur, wherein a suture coupled to the fixation member includes a first free end that passes through the fixation member and through a first longitudinal passage in the suture to form a first adjustable loop that extends back through the femoral tunnel alongside a segment of the first free end of the suture with a portion of the first adjustable loop additionally extending outside the femoral tunnel through a second opening in the outer surface of the femur and into a tibial tunnel, and wherein the suture includes a second free end that passes through the fixation member and through a second longitudinal passage in the suture to form a second adjustable loop that extends back through the femoral tunnel alongside a segment of the second free end of the suture with a portion of the second adjustable loop additionally extending outside the femoral tunnel through the second opening in the outer surface of the femur and into the tibial tunnel, the first longitudinal passage separate from the second longitudinal passage in the suture; coupling a leading end of an ACL to the first adjustable loop and the second adjustable loop outside the femoral tunnel; and pulling on the first free end and the second free end of the suture so as to: advance the segment of the first free end and the segment of the second free end through the femoral tunnel in a direction toward the second opening in the outer surface of the femur, force the fixation member against bone around the first opening in the outer surface of the femur, reduce the size of the first adjustable loop and the size of the second adjustable loop, and pull the leading end of the ACL into the femoral tunnel through the second opening in the outer surface of the femur.