Patent ID: 8491652
Filing Date: 2013-07-23
Classification: A61B,A61F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for anchoring at least two graft ligaments within a longitudinal bone tunnel, the apparatus comprising: a longitudinal sleeve having an internal surface defining a lumen and an external surface having at least two radially spaced ligament-contacting surfaces thereon, the sleeve being configured for at least partial insertion into the bone tunnel with each graft ligament positioned laterally adjacent respective ones of said ligament-contacting surfaces, with each of the graft ligaments being at least partially located between the bone tunnel and the sleeve; an actuating member having longitudinally separated and axially misaligned proximal and distal actuating member ends; a longitudinal axis extending substantially coaxially to the actuating member; and an asymmetrically offset profile defined by the actuating member and oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the asymmetrically offset profile defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced engagement thresholds; wherein when the actuating member is inserted longitudinally into the sleeve it causes frictional engagement of each graft ligament with both the bone tunnel and at least one of said ligament-contacting surfaces, the frictional engagement of each graft ligament located between the bone tunnel and the sleeve being temporally spaced apart from the frictional engagement of at least one other graft ligament located between the bone tunnel and the sleeve, the temporal spacing being provided by the longitudinal spacing of the plurality of engagement thresholds.