Patent Description:
In orthopaedic interventions around a knee, soft tissue grafts are often retrieved from a harvesting site and transferred to a target site. An example surgical intervention process for such a transplantation is the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction process, during which autologous tissues, such as tendons and ligaments, are used. One example technique for ACL reconstruction uses a quadriceps tendon and a patellar bone plug in the reconstruction process. This arthroscopically performed surgery includes the following procedures.

Procedure <NUM>: Quadriceps tendon graft harvesting and reinforcement thereof.

A central piece of the quadriceps tendon graft having a length of e.g. approximately <NUM> including an attached proximal patellar bone plug having a length of e.g. approximately <NUM> is harvested. This graft will serve as a replacement for the torn anterior cruciate ligament. The tendon portion of the graft is reinforced with suture. This suture allows the surgeon to correctly tension and fixate the graft to the tibial bone, as described in greater detail later.

To harvest a bone plug from the patellar bone, most often a hollow drill is used. A hollow drill has a thin wall thickness and allows an intact bone plug to be drilled out, which is only minimally smaller than the hole or tunnel created by the drill. These bone plugs typically have an outer diameter of <NUM>-<NUM> and a length of <NUM>-<NUM>. Specifically, when retrieving a patellar bone plug using a hollow drill, the plug is retrieved from the top side of the patella, flush with the outer face of the bone. After drilling for example to a depth of <NUM>, a chisel is used to cut of the bone plug at its far end.

A tunnel is drilled from the anterior and proximal tibia towards the natural tibial foot-print of the ACL. Preferably, a hollow drill is used in order to retrieve a bone plug, which can be placed back in the tibial tunnel, at a later step during the surgery. The tibial tunnel is shaped as a through bore having of a diameter of approximately <NUM>.

A guide wire is placed through a femoral bone, defining the intended anatomical direction of a femoral tunnel. The guide wire is advanced through the bone and made to exit at the antero-lateral side of the leg. The guidewire comprises an eyelet, used to pass a suture string throughout the femur in a following procedural step. Using a cannulated drill, the guide wire is over-drilled and the tunnel is created. Alternatively the femoral tunnel is created using a punching instrument. The femoral tunnel is shaped as a blind hole having a diameter of approximately <NUM>-<NUM> and a length of approximately <NUM>-<NUM>.

The patellar bone plug including the quadriceps tendon as retrieved in procedure <NUM> is impacted into the femoral tunnel. This press-fit fixation will hold the bone plug in place during the healing period. The bone plug will osseointegrate with the surrounding femoral bone.

To achieve the press-fit fixation, most often the tip of the cylindrical graft, i.e. the bone plug, is given a conical tip, using cutting pliers, or a bone plug compression instrument. The conical tip, which extends over approximately one third of the bone plug length, will facilitate insertion of the bone plug into the femoral tunnel. Typically the reshaped tip has an outer circumference which is smaller than the entry circumference of the femoral tunnel. Furthermore, to facilitate the insertion, in a next step, a bore is drilled into the bone plug, and a suture strand is looped through the bore. This suture strand is looped through the eyelet of the earlier placed femoral guide wire and is pulled through the femoral bone and pulled through the patient's muscles and skin and exits at the antero-lateral side of the leg. This suture strand is used to pull the bone plug into the femoral tunnel. Additionally the suture strand helps to align the bone plug with the femoral tunnel. Now, by pulling the suture strand and by tapping against the bone plug using a plunger and a mallet, the bone plug is brought in place.

In a next step, the quadriceps tendon graft is pulled over the joint space, and fixated in the tibial tunnel. Most commonly the tibial fixation may be carried out using a screw for suture attachment or an interference screw. A screw for suture attachment would be placed on the anterior side of the tibial bone, and the suture is tied around the screw for fixation. Using an interference screw, a resorbable and thick screw is placed next to the ligament or tendon in the tibial tunnel, and it rigidly jams the tendon between the screw and the tunnel wall.

The success of the surgery greatly depends on the primary stability of the patellar bone plug in the femoral tunnel during the healing and osseointegration phase.

Currently, as described, by pulling the suture strand and by tapping against the bone plug using a plunger and a mallet, the bone plug is brought in place. The suture strand had to be pulled throughout the femoral bone, muscles and skin using a guide wire, to allow this procedure to be executed. This surgical step is a time-consuming step, and it causes temporarily trauma to the bone, muscle and skin.

In order to eliminate this trauma, and to reduce surgery time by reducing surgical steps, there is thus a need for an improved instrument for insertion of the bone plug that upon inserting the bone plug does not require the combined pushing (impacting) and pulling action.

<CIT> discloses a surgical trephine adapted for boring an opening in tamped bone chippings which includes a hollow elongate body portion having an internal bore and the distal end of which has an annular cutting rim, a piston located in said bore with a piston surface facing towards said cutting rim, and means for moving the piston in the bore.

<CIT> relates to a delivery device for an osteochondral graft comprising a tube, a plunger, and a graft retention assembly. The tube has a bore having an inside diameter and extends from a proximal end to a distal end. The inside diameter of the bore is sufficient to accept an osteochondral graft of a desired diameter. The tube has a set of apertures located adjacent the distal end of the tube. The plunger is slidably disposed within the bore of the tube. The graft retention assembly comprises a collar and a set of tabs. The graft retention assembly is attached to the tube such that the tabs are disposed within the apertures of the tube. The tabs are biased towards each other but are capable of being displaced away from each other to receive or release the osteochondral graft.

<CIT> discloses an apparatus for loading a bone graft material including a preloading assembly, and a dispensing assembly. A method of dispensing bone graft material includes loading bone graft material into the preloader assembly, compacting the material and transferring the compacted bone graft material into a cannula of the dispensing assembly. The compacted bone graft material is vented to release unwanted or undesirable air, vapor or other gases from the bone graft material.

<CIT> relates to a rod persuader assembly including a tubular body, an inner shaft and an outer shaft. The inner shaft is axially displaceable relative to the tubular body, and has a gripping end and a handle end. The outer shaft is axially displaceable relative to the tubular body, and has a rod reducing end. In one embodiment, the handle end is rotatable relative to the gripping end. In another embodiment, the gripping end includes a cylindrical socket. In yet another embodiment, the rod persuader assembly is operable in two separate and independent stages to secure the instrument to an implant, and advance a rod into the implant.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome at least some of the problems associated with soft tissue graft fixation techniques, for instance in anterior cruciate ligament surgery. More specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide a medical instrument for the insertion of a bone plug that allows the bone plug to be inserted in an accurate and reproducible manner, without the need of applying pulling forces to suture strands that are passed through the bone, muscle and skin of the patient.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a bone plug insertion instrument as recited in claim <NUM>.

The proposed novel bone plug insertion instrument has the advantage that it can efficiently be used during a surgical intervention in which a bone plug is inserted into a target hole in the femoral condyle, for instance, at the native (now torn and removed) ACL footprint site. More specifically, the bone plug insertion instrument allows a practitioner to insert a bone plug in a controlled and reproducible manner through a small antero-medial portal into the knee joint, which is commonly used for these arthroscopic reconstructive interventions. Therefore, the surgery becomes a standardised procedure providing reproducible and predictable results. Moreover, the surgery time can be reduced, and a currently commonly executed surgical step can be eliminated.

The elimination of this combined "pushing & pulling" step obviates the need for passing a guide wire throughout the whole leg, drilling of a bore into the bone plug and passing a suture therethrough, pulling the suture through the leg, removing this suture, and it further obviates the need for a costly guide wire with an eyelet.

The bone plug may be harvested using a hollow drill, circumferentially setting free the bone plug. As a result, the harvested bone plug typically has a cylindrical shape.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit comprising the bone plug insertion instrument and a bone plug grafting instrument.

Other aspects of the invention are recited in the detailed description and dependent claims attached hereto.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a non-limiting example embodiment, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:.

An embodiment of the present invention will next be described in detail with reference to the attached figures. The embodiment is described in the context of a bone plug insertion instrument configured to insert a cylindrical bone plug into a target femoral tunnel, but the teachings of the invention are not limited to this environment. The teachings of the present invention are equally applicable to differently shaped bone plugs as well. Identical or corresponding functional and structural elements which appear in the different drawings are assigned the same reference numerals. When the word "contacting" is used, this is to be understood that a first object is configured to contact either directly or directly a second object. Similarly, when the word "engaging" is used, this is to be understood that a first object is configured to come in contact either directly or directly with a second object. Furthermore, in the present description, there is no particular difference in the meaning between these two words, unless this is implicitly or explicitly made clear in the context.

<FIG> shows an example grafting instrument <NUM> or a bone plug removal instrument, while <FIG> shows a bone plug <NUM> together with a tendon <NUM> attached to the bone plug. The grafting instrument <NUM> is sized and shaped as a thin-walled tube, i.e. a hollow tube thus comprising a bore or cavity extending longitudinally through it. A first end <NUM> of the grafting instrument is configured to be coupled to a surgical drilling machine, while a second, opposite end <NUM> comprises a cutting edge <NUM> or surface, in this example in the form of a serrated cutting surface or cutting teeth. The tube-shaped grafting instrument <NUM> defines a first inner diameter ID1, and is intended to graft a bone plug of a first size with a first outer diameter OD1 and length L1. The bone plug <NUM> with an attached tendon <NUM> can be grafted using the grafting instrument <NUM>. The length L1 may be between <NUM> and <NUM>, or more specifically between <NUM> to <NUM>, while the first outer diameter OD1 may be smaller than <NUM>, or smaller than <NUM> or more specifically between <NUM> and <NUM>. In this example, the bone plug is of a substantially cylindrical shape. Thus, as shown in <FIG>, the grafting instrument is a hollow drill element configured to be attached to a surgical drilling machine. By means of drilling, the grafting instrument <NUM> is advanced forward into the target bone. The bone plug to be retrieved is thus received in the tube. Specifically, when retrieving a patellar bone plug using a hollow drill, the plug is retrieved from the top side of the patella, flush with the outer face of the bone. After drilling for example to a depth of <NUM>, a chisel is used to cut off the bone plug at its far end. The separated bone plug and tendon are located within the grafting instrument.

<FIG> show an example bone insertion instrument <NUM> or bone plug insertion instrument and the individual components. The bone plug insertion instrument comprises an elongated housing <NUM> or body element and an elongated plunger <NUM>. A bone plug <NUM> with an attached tendon <NUM> is also shown. In <FIG>, the bone plug <NUM> is engaged or received in the bone plug insertion instrument, while <FIG> shows a situation where the bone plug has been ejected or expelled out of the bone plug insertion instrument <NUM>.

<FIG> depict the elongated housing in greater detail. The elongated housing <NUM> comprises an at least partially tube-shaped insertion portion <NUM>, a middle portion <NUM>, and a handling portion <NUM>. The at least partially tube-shaped insertion portion <NUM> is a hollow element sized and shaped to hold the bone plug <NUM> with an attached tendon <NUM>. The handling portion <NUM> allows the user to manipulate the bone plug insertion instrument <NUM>, and the middle portion <NUM> separates the handling and insertion portions in such a manner that the bone plug can be placed by means of arthroscopic surgery. In this example, the middle portion is shaped as a partial tube, such as half a tube, i.e. a tube which longitudinally comprises one or more open or exposed sides. The partial tube will allow placement of the bone plug into the insertion portion <NUM>. Furthermore, in this example, the handling portion is formed as an elongated grip <NUM>.

In this example, the at least partially tube-shaped insertion portion <NUM> is substantially rotationally symmetric and has substantially circular circumference IC1 or inner virtual circular circumference IVC1, which is substantially equally sized as the first outer diameter OD1 of the bone plug. The inner circumference IC1 or inner virtual circular circumference IVC1 defines a cross-sectional area CSA measured orthogonally or substantially orthogonally to a longitudinal axis of the bone plug insertion instrument.

It is to be noted that in the present description, the word circumference is used to describe the boundary of a curved geometric figure or object. More specifically, the word inner circumference may be used to describe the circular inner boundary of a cylinder. Although in the present example, the tube is of a cylindrical shape, the word circumference is not limited to a circular boundary, but it also defines a general distance inside an object, such as an inner perimeter, border, boundary, periphery, etc. For instance, according to an example, the word circumference may describe the boundary of an element having an oval shape. Other shapes such as polygons, irregular shapes also have an (average) internal boundary forming a circumference.

The cross-sectional area CSA is at least partially defined or surrounded by a bone contacting or engaging end surface <NUM> (or a target bone contacting end surface or a first contact surface) and optionally by its virtual extension if the bone engaging end surface <NUM> is not a closed surface (where the virtual extension would close the non-closed bone engaging end surface). The bone engaging end surface <NUM> forms the tip <NUM> or distal end of the insertion instrument <NUM> and is configured to be pressed against the bone (in this example the lateral inner side of the intercondylar notch of a femoral bone), which directly surrounds the target femoral tunnel <NUM> (see <FIG>). The elongated housing <NUM> further comprises or defines a first central axis A1 coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the insertion instrument <NUM>. In this example, the bone engaging end surface <NUM> is oriented at an acute angle α to the first central axis A1 and it has an overall planar shape. Alternatively, the bone engaging end surface <NUM> may be arranged perpendicularly to the first central axis A1 as depicted in <FIG>.

The at least partially tube-shaped insertion portion <NUM> comprises a clearance or opening, more specifically a soft-tissue graft clearance <NUM>, which intersects with the bone engaging end surface <NUM>. This soft-tissue graft clearance forms a passage for the tendon <NUM> of the graft to pass through, when the bone plug is inserted into the femoral tunnel. The size and shape of the soft-tissue graft clearance prevent the tendon <NUM> from getting damaged when the bone plug <NUM> is advanced forward out of the elongated housing, as described in greater detail later. The at least partially tube-shaped insertion portion <NUM> may thus be understood to be a tube or cylinder with a slot longitudinally through the tube outer wall.

For holding or clamping purposes of the bone plug <NUM> (and tendon), the at least partially tube-shaped insertion portion <NUM> comprises a first slot <NUM>, in this example a U-shaped slot, that forms a first compliance structure <NUM>, such as a leaf spring <NUM>, to hold or clamp the bone plug. Thus, the first compliance structure forms a first elastic structure. In this example, the first slot <NUM> is located on a side of the housing <NUM> that is opposite to the side where the graft clearance <NUM> is located. In its rest state, the leaf spring is bent inwards (i.e. towards the centre of the housing) and therefore it presses the bone plug against the inner walls of the tube-shaped insertion portion <NUM>, and so inhibits an unwanted early release of the bone plug.

In this example, the handling portion <NUM> comprises an inwardly directed (i.e. in this example towards the first central axis A1) rotation-inhibiting protrusion <NUM>. As described later, this protrusion is configured to engage with an elongated channel, groove or track <NUM> of the elongated plunger <NUM>. This track is configured to receive the rotation-inhibiting protrusion <NUM> in an substantially play free manner and so only allowing a translational motion of the plunger (with respect to the housing), where the direction of the motion is parallel to the first central axis A1.

As described later, the insertion instrument will most often, during operation, follow an oblique direction, i.e. an upwards-oriented direction. The bone plug is placed into the elongated tube (i.e. the tube-shaped insertion portion <NUM>), and the handling portion is then held by one hand of the operator or surgeon. The other hand can in this way hold a mallet or small hammer to tap onto the elongated plunger. In order to prevent the plunger from disengaging unwantedly out of the elongated housing, the elongated housing <NUM> comprises a friction mechanism <NUM> (which may also be understood as a compliance structure), which inhibits unwanted motion of the plunger in relation to the housing. In this example, the friction mechanism <NUM> is formed as an inwardly bent second leaf spring <NUM>. Alternatively, the plunger may comprise the friction mechanism. To limit the amount of translation of the elongated plunger in relation to the elongated housing, the elongated housing comprises a first stop seat <NUM>, which is configured to engage with a second stop seat <NUM> of the elongated plunger as described in greater detail later.

<FIG> show the elongated plunger or pusher in greater detail. In this example, the plunger is to be understood as an element that is configured to move at least between a first position and a second position with respect to the elongated housing, and where in the second position, the plunger is configured to expulse or remove the bone plug out of the insertion instrument. The movement is in this example a sliding movement. The plunger may then return to the first position to be used again. The elongated plunger <NUM> comprises a bone plug driving portion <NUM> with a bone plug contacting or engaging end surface <NUM> (or a second contact surface). At the opposite end (i.e. at the proximal end), the elongated plunger comprises an actuating portion <NUM>. The actuating portion ends in an impaction end <NUM> comprising an impaction surface. The elongated plunger comprises or defines a second central axis A2 along the length of the elongated plunger. The bone plug driving portion <NUM> is sized and shaped to fit (axially) in the at least partially tube-shaped insertion portion <NUM>. In this example, the bone plug driving portion <NUM> has a substantially cross-sectional crescent shape and is sized and shaped to overlap partially with the inner cross-sectional area CSA. More specifically, according to the present example, the cross section (orthogonally to the second central axis A2) of the bone plug driving portion <NUM> is sized and shaped such that its area is <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the inner cross-sectional area CSA, which defines a footprint or virtual footprint of the bone engaging end surface <NUM>. In other words, the surface or contact area of the bone plug engaging end surface <NUM> is <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the size of the inner cross-sectional area CSA. However, the likelihood for a good outcome would be relatively high if the surface or contact area of the bone plug engaging end surface <NUM> is <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the size of the inner cross-sectional area CSA. The tendon <NUM> is attached to one end of the bone plug <NUM>. This attachment area or footprint of the tendon covers the majority of the bone plug end. As described later, upon insertion of the bone plug, a tapping force is applied to this attachment area by the driving portion <NUM>. Ideally, the majority of these forces is transferred directly to the bone, to inhibit damage of the tendon footprint. A damage could negatively influence the overall strength of the tendon. If the bone plug engaging end surface is too small, then too high pressure would be exerted on the bone plug and/or tendon. The bone would be crushed and/or the tendon mashed, or the end surface would slide off. On the other hand, if the bone plug engaging end surface is too big, then a large part of the footprint of the tendon would be mashed. The fibres would be damaged and there is a high risk that the tendon would be ruptured later. In the present example, the bone plug engaging end surface <NUM> comprises grooves <NUM> or a textured or rough surface, to increase friction between the bone plug <NUM> and the bone plug engaging end surface <NUM>. In this manner, the grip of the target impaction area of the bone plug <NUM> can be increased. In this case, the elongated plunger further comprises an elongated recess <NUM> at its bottom side. The advantage of this recess is overcome the first compliance structure <NUM>. In this manner, the movement of the elongated plunger is not hindered by the first compliance structure.

As described earlier, the elongated plunger <NUM> comprises an elongated track <NUM>, which is sized and shaped to receive the rotation-inhibiting protrusion <NUM>. The elongated track <NUM> is oriented parallel or substantially parallel to the second central axis A2. The engagement of the protrusion in the track inhibits rotation of the elongated protrusion about the second central axis A2. Furthermore, the elongated plunger comprises a second stop seat <NUM>, which is intended to engage with the first stop seat to limit the maximal insertion depth of the elongated plunger <NUM> within the housing <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate the method of operating the bone plug insertion instrument <NUM>, and they show further example details of the components of the bone plug insertion instrument <NUM> and their interaction.

The elongated plunger <NUM> is configured to move relative to the elongated housing <NUM> between a first position and a second, different position wherein in the first position, the bone plug insertion instrument <NUM> forms an open configuration, and in the second position, the bone plug insertion instrument <NUM> forms a substantially closed configuration.

<FIG> show the first position. In the first position, the elongated housing <NUM> and the elongated plunger <NUM> are shifted longitudinally or lengthwise by a distance X (a first distance) in relation to each other providing the possibility for the bone plug <NUM> to be arranged in a space <NUM> inside the tube-shaped insertion portion <NUM> between the bone engaging end surface <NUM> and the bone plug engaging end surface <NUM>. The distance X is here measured as the separation between the bone engaging end surface <NUM> and the bone plug engaging end surface <NUM>, for example along an imaginary line, which is parallel to the first or second central axis.

<FIG> shows how the bone plug engaging end surface <NUM> is being engaged against or with the bone plug rear end <NUM>. The distance X is now reduced. In this example, the bone plug tip <NUM> protrudes beyond the bone engaging end surface <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the bone plug insertion instrument including the bone plug and tendon being aligned with the target femoral bone tunnel <NUM>. In an example scenario, the bone plug insertion instrument is introduced into the knee joint through a so-called antero-medial portal.

<FIG> shows the engagement of the bone engaging end surface <NUM> with the target bone and the bone plug tip <NUM> being engaged with or partially inserted in the femoral bone tunnel.

<FIG> (without the target bone) show that by exerting force or impulses to the actuating portion <NUM>, the bone plug is ejected from the insertion instrument into the target femoral tunnel. The elongated plunger <NUM> has now reached the second position.

In the second position, the bone plug insertion instrument <NUM> forms a substantially closed configuration, in which the space <NUM> is reduced in size in such a manner that the end surface <NUM> and the bone plug engaging end surface <NUM> are overlapping or arranged adjacently. In other words, the distance X (a second distance) has been reduced to zero or approximately zero. In this example the distance X in the second position is less than <NUM> or more specifically less than <NUM>, for example substantially <NUM>. It is to be noted that this distance may even become negative. This would happen if the bone plug engaging end surface <NUM> has moved beyond the bone engaging end surface <NUM>. In this example, the elongated housing <NUM> comprises a first stop seat <NUM> and the elongated plunger <NUM> comprises a second stop seat <NUM>, and in the second position, the first and second stop seats <NUM>, <NUM> are engaged with each other or adjacently arranged. In other words, now the first and second stop seats are in contact with each other or rest against each other. The first and second stop seats prevent the bone plug from being impacted too deep into the target bone tunnel.

<FIG> shows the implanted bone and tendon graft after removal of the bone plug insertion instrument.

<FIG> show variants of specific aspects of the bone plug insertion instrument. <FIG> shows a variant according to which the handling portion <NUM> comprises a handle <NUM>, which is angled with respect to the first central axis A1. Depending on the operator's preference, an angled handle may be considered more ergonomic to hold the device.

<FIG> shows a variant where the bone engaging end surface <NUM> comprises at least one spike 20a, 20b. The spike can be pressed into the target bone, and in this manner, the instrument can be stabilised.

<FIG> shows a variant where the bone engaging end surface <NUM> is nonplanar, and thus has a hollow shape. In other words, the bone engaging end surface has a concave or substantially concave side profile. This kind of surface shape may improve engagement against the target bone.

<FIG> shows a variant where the bone plug driving portion <NUM> comprises pointy protrusions <NUM> or pyramids <NUM>, which may be understood to form a rough or textured contact surface. This kind of configuration increases the grip of the target impaction area of the bone plug <NUM>. The rough surface could also comprise a sandpaper-like structure.

<FIG> shows a variant where the bone plug driving portion <NUM> has a C-shaped or U-shaped cross section.

<FIG> shows a variant according to which the bone plug driving portion <NUM> has a cross section of a semi-circular shape.

<FIG> shows a variant designed to better hold the bone plug in place, prior to willingly ejecting the bone plug out of the bone plug insertion instrument. In this example, the elongated housing <NUM> comprises a second slot <NUM> that intersects with or reaches the bone engaging end surface <NUM>. The second slot <NUM> thus extends from the bone engaging surface, in this example parallel or substantially parallel to the first central axis A1, a certain distance towards the opposite end of the insertion instrument. This slot divides the at least partially tube-shaped insertion portion <NUM> into a first tube section <NUM> and a second tube section <NUM>, and it provides certain elasticity between these sections and so forms a second compliance structure <NUM>, which may be understood as a second elastic structure. In this example, the at least partially tube-shaped insertion portion <NUM> has an inner circular circumference IC1 or inner virtual circular circumference IVC1 which is equal to or smaller than the first outer diameter OD1 of the bone plug. Thanks to the elasticity provided by the second compliance structure, a friction force can be applied to the bone plug in order to prevent an unwanted release of the bone plug <NUM> from the insertion instrument <NUM>.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive, the invention being not limited to the disclosed embodiment, but being defined by the appended claims. Other embodiments and variants are understood, and can be achieved by those skilled in the art when carrying out the claimed invention, based on a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims. Further embodiments may be obtained by combining any of the above teachings.

Claim 1:
A bone plug insertion instrument (<NUM>) for inserting a bone plug (<NUM>) into a target bone tunnel (<NUM>), the bone plug insertion instrument (<NUM>) comprising:
• an elongated housing (<NUM>) defining a first central axis (A1), and comprising an at least partially tube-shaped insertion portion (<NUM>), and a handling portion (<NUM>), the at least partially tube-shaped insertion portion (<NUM>) defining, substantially orthogonally to the first central axis (A1), an inner cross-sectional area at least partially surrounded by a bone contacting end surface (<NUM>) of the at least partially tube-shaped insertion portion (<NUM>); and
• an elongated plunger (<NUM>) comprising an actuating portion (<NUM>) and a bone plug driving portion (<NUM>) with a bone plug contacting end surface (<NUM>), the elongated plunger (<NUM>) being configured to move relative to the elongated housing (<NUM>) between a first position and a second, different position,
wherein in the first position the bone plug insertion instrument (<NUM>) forms an open configuration, in which the bone contacting end surface (<NUM>) and the bone plug contacting end surface (<NUM>) are separated by a first distance, thereby allowing the bone plug (<NUM>) to be received in a space (<NUM>) within the at least partially tube-shaped insertion portion (<NUM>) between the bone contacting end surface (<NUM>) and the bone plug contacting end surface (<NUM>), wherein in the second position, the bone plug insertion instrument (<NUM>) forms a substantially closed configuration, in which a second distance between the bone contacting end surface (<NUM>) and the bone plug contacting end surface (<NUM>) is smaller than the first distance, and wherein in the second position, the bone plug contacting end surface (<NUM>) is adjacent to the bone contacting end surface (<NUM>),
characterised in that the bone plug contacting end surface (<NUM>) has a contact area of <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the inner cross-sectional area, and in that the at least partially tube-shaped insertion portion (<NUM>) comprises a soft-tissue graft clearance (<NUM>) extending from the bone contacting end surface (<NUM>) towards the handling portion (<NUM>) and allowing soft tissue structures to pass through the soft-tissue graft clearance (<NUM>).