Patent ID: 7632284
Filing Date: 2009-12-15
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An instrument kit for performing a repair procedure on a meniscal tear in a knee for use in combination with a meniscal repair device, the instrument kit comprising: at least one template including an elongate body defining X, Y and Z axes, the elongate body adapted for insertion in a knee of the patient to approximate a path to a meniscal tear within the knee, the elongate body having a length along the X-axis sufficient to access the meniscal tear and a reduced profile to facilitate passage thereto, a height along the Z-axis and a width along the Y-axis, the width being substantially less than the height, wherein the elongate body includes an atraumatic tip to reduce injury to tissue within the knee and wherein the atraumatic tip includes a distal end surface defining a dimple formed therein that is configured and adapted to engage a fastener in order to facilitate driving of the fastener into underlying tissue, whereby, upon subsequent removal of the one template from the knee, a correspondingly dimensioned meniscal repair device is introduced along the path to the meniscal tear for repair thereof, the at least one template defining a longitudinal axis and further including attachment structure formed at a proximal end thereof; and a handle having receiving structure formed at a distal end thereof corresponding in configuration to the attachment structure of the at least one template, the receiving structure being configured to selectively receive the attachment structure in a snap-fit arrangement such that the at least one template is releasably engagable with the handle, wherein the snap-fit arrangement enables the application of both a proximally directed longitudinal force and a distally directed longitudinal force to the elongate body to facilitate access to and removal from the meniscal tear by the at least one template.