Patent ID: 8361079
Filing Date: 2013-01-29
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for drilling an angled osteal tunnel having an enlarged tunnel portion into a bone comprising: a) drilling or punching a first tunnel portion into the bone from a first surface location on the bone, the first tunnel portion having an interior end within the bone and inserting a guide component into the first tunnel a predetermined distance wherein an end of the guide component extends to the interior end equal to a length of the first tunnel, the guide component being affixed to a rack and having a target ring for receiving a drill bit at the end which is inserted to the interior end of the first tunnel, the target ring being an opening on the guide component adjacent the end and sized to allow the drill bit to enter; b) drilling a second tunnel portion having an interior end within the bone with a drilling device into the bone from a second surface location on the bone by inserting a drill bit into a drill guide sleeve attached to the rack, the drill guide sleeve being aligned to guide a drill bit into the opening of the target ring wherein the drill guide sleeve and the guide component are configured such that the drill guide sleeve is angled directly at the target ring at the end of the guide component such that the second tunnel is drilled directly into the end of the guide component and drilling to a depth to pass into the target ring of the guide component as the drill guide sleeve guides the drilling bit to the interior end of the first tunnel portion, whereby the first tunnel portion and the second tunnel portion intersect at their respective interior ends and connect at an angle, resulting in an angled osteal tunnel; c) removing the drill bit from the second tunnel and inserting a guide wire into the second tunnel through the drill guide sleeve and thereafter removing the drill guide sleeve leaving the guide wire and joining a reamer to the guide wire, whereby the guide wire extends to the intersection of the first and second tunnel portion and the guide wire remains within the second tunnel portion, the reamer having a diameter greater than a diameter of the second tunnel portion, wherein the reamer comprises an axial bore and the axial bore cooperates with the guide wire to guide the reamer along the guide wire; d) contacting the reamer to the second surface location on the bone; and e) rotating the reamer such that a portion of second tunnel portion is excavated, resulting in an enlarged tunnel section of the second tunnel within the angled osteal tunnel extending from the second surface location partially into the second tunnel.