Patent ID: 7833230
Filing Date: 2010-11-16
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for use with a passageway in a surgical procedure, comprising: a reference structure; a first guide member having distal and proximal ends, the proximal end being secured to the reference structure, the first guide member including a tubular member with a first passage inside of the tubular member leading from the proximal end to the distal end, the distal end of the first guide member extending away from the reference structure and arranged to be placed in a first hole in a bone so as to orient the first guide member and the reference structure relative to the bone with the first passage at the distal end communicating with the first hole; a suture retriever movably arranged in the first passage of the first guide member, the suture retriever being movable independent of the first guide member to extend a distal end of the suture retriever from the distal end of the first guide member to engage a suture located outside of the first guide member and being movable to return to the distal end of the first guide member to retrieve the suture to the first passage; and a second guide member having distal and proximal ends and including a tubular member with a second passage inside of the tubular member leading to the distal end, the second guide member being movably mounted to the reference structure to be movable relative to the reference structure in a direction along the second passage, the second passage of the second guide member being arranged to guide a bone perforator in formation of a second hole into the bone while the first guide member is placed in the first hole, the second hole being formed so as to be aligned and communicate with the second passage while being transverse to and intersecting with the first hole; wherein the first and second guide members, the reference structure and the suture retriever are arranged so that suture provided into the second hole via the second passage of the second guide member, while the distal end of the first guide member is in the first hole and orients the reference structure and second guide member relative to the bone, is retrievable by (a) extension of the suture retriever from the first guide member while the distal end of the first guide member is in the first hole, (b) engagement of the suture with the suture retriever, and (c) return of the suture retriever and engaged suture to the first passage of the first guide member.