Patent ID: 8470036

Claim:
An apparatus for use in supporting a graft ligament within a bone tunnel, the apparatus comprising: a graft ligament plug, the graft ligament plug comprising a groove extending along one side of the plug, across the front end of the plug, and then back down the opposing side of the plug, with the groove being sized such that when a graft ligament is disposed in the groove, the graft ligament will protrude out of the groove and engage adjoining portions of the bone tunnel so as to facilitate osseointegration therewith; wherein graft ligament plug is produced as a living hinge element connecting two halves, operating in a “clamshell” manner, such that the graft ligament can be positioned within the groove and thereafter clamped in said “clamshell” manner between the two halves of the graft ligament plug thereby completing the graft ligament plug.