Patent ID: 7175632
Filing Date: 2007-02-13
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for securing a graft in a bone tunnel formed in a bone, the bone tunnel having a longitudinal axis, the bone having an outer surface, bone on a first side of the bone tunnel, and bone on a second side of the bone tunnel, the apparatus comprising: a base member; a tunnel guide rod including a first end, a second end, and an axis therebetween, the tunnel guide rod being attached to the base member at the tunnel guide rod first end, the tunnel guide rod including a transverse opening integrally formed through the rod near its second end, the tunnel guide rod having an elongated, longitudinally aligned and radially outwardly directed slot extending distally from the tunnel guide rod first end, and the tunnel guide rod second end being positionable in the bone tunnel; a drill guide connected to the base member and directed transversely to align with the transverse opening in the tunnel guide rod, the drill guide including a first end and a second end, the first end being positionable against the outer surface of the bone; and a transverse drill bit engageable with the drill guide to direct the transverse drill bit to drill a transverse bone hole through the bone on the first side of the bone tunnel, through the transverse opening in the guide rod and into the bone on the second side of the tunnel until a portion of the transverse drill bit abuts the tunnel guide rod, the transverse drill bit including a plurality of depth markings along a portion of its length, the depth markings being readable relative to a portion of the drill guide such that when the drill guide first end is positioned against the outer surface of the bone and the portion of the transverse drill bit abuts the tunnel guide rod, the depth markings indicate the distance from the tunnel guide rod to the outer surface of the bone adjacent the first end of the drill guide.