Patent ID: 6214007
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
A surgical fastener for securing a soft tissue graft to a bone tunnel, which comprises:a) a screw having a threaded portion and a conical shaped head portion; said head portion containing a means for threadable insertion of said screw;b) a collar comprising a conical shape with one or more side wall passages and a central passage; said conical shape being substantially similar to said head portion of said screw so as to over fit said head portion of said screw; said side wall passages being intended for the passage of strands of a soft tissue graft; said central passage being intended for the passage of said threaded portion of said screw;c) a means of forming a conical expanded opening to said bone tunnel which is substantially similar to said collar, so as to allow said collar to fit within said conical expanded opening;d) a means of introducing said strands of said soft tissue graft through said side wall passages of said collar;e) a means of slidably introducing said collar over said soft tissue graft strands until said collar is seated in said conical expanded opening to said bone tunnel;f) a means of inserting said threaded portion of said screw through said central passage in said collar and threadably introducing said screw into said bone tunnel so as to securely capture said soft tissue graft between said head portion and said collar;g) a means of compressing said soft tissue graft into said bone tunnel so as to promote healing of said soft tissue graft;whereby tensile stresses in said secured soft tissue graft are resisted.