Patent ID: 6994725
Filing Date: 2006-02-07
Classification: A61B,A61F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for reconstructing a ligament, said apparatus comprising: a bone fixation element having a distal end, a proximal end, and a central bore extending between said distal end and said proximal end, said central bore having a first diameter, said bone fixation element having an exterior surface with a thread outwardly projecting therefrom and said bone fixation element being adapted for positioning in a bone tunnel; a flexible filament having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end having retaining means for holding a graft ligament, and said flexible filament having a second diameter smaller than said first diameter so as to allow said flexible filament to slidingly pass through said central bore of said bone fixation element, whereby said flexible filament holding the graft ligament in the bone tunnel is slideably positionable through said central bore of said bone fixation element; and a crimp crimped onto said flexible filament such that said crimp is securely fixed to said flexible filament independent of engagement between said crimp and said bone fixation element, whereby said crimp is fixedly positionable to said flexible filament adjacent to said proximal end of said bone fixation element so as to prevent distal movement of said flexible filament relative to said bone fixation element and hence prevent distal movement of said graft ligament in the bone tunnel.