Importance

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Abstract

A ligament fixator for a ligament anchor system and a process its use in an arthroscopic procedure for mounting a ligament graft end in a tunnel formed into a bone. The anchor system includes footing member for positioning in a bone tunnel, and includes a longitudinal opening formed therethrough, and a ligament carrying member that has a forward of proximal portion for fitting through the member longitudinal opening and includes a coupling for securing it to the footing member. The ligament carrying member further including as a rear or distal portion that incorporates a ligament mounting section having a center longitudinal axis wherefrom at least one and preferably a pair of spaced apart pointed posts extend at essentially right angles that include serrations or downwardly sloping teeth formed along at least one side of each post, the post or posts for passing through transverse holes formed in an end of a ligament graft, such as a bone end of a bone tendon ligament graft, with the ligament graft bone end urged onto the mounting plate posts axially mounting it thereto. The ligament carrying member with axially mounted ligament graft are guided in the bone tunnel and into the footing longitudinal opening, with the ligament carrying member to lock therein, completing the ligament graft end mounting in the bone tunnel. With, after the ligament graft is placed under tension and the opposite graft end secured, should an adjustment of ligament graft tension be desirable, the footing member is turned appropriately in the bone tunnel.

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First Claim