Soft tissue attachment device

Abstract

Methods and devices are disclosed for the attachment of a soft tissue structure (e.g., tendon or ligament) to bone or a prosthetic implant. In one form, the device includes a clamp having a convex tissue engaging surface. A fastener compresses the soft tissue between the tissue engaging surface and the bone or the prosthetic implant. In another form, the device includes a second clamp comprising a porous metallic material. The second clamp has a first surface, a concave tissue engaging surface opposite the first surface, and a throughhole for a fastener. The second clamp is placed adjacent the bone, the soft tissue is placed adjacent the second clamp, and the first clamp is placed adjacent the soft tissue. The soft tissue is compressed between the convex tissue engaging surface of the first clamp and the concave tissue engaging surface of the second clamp using the fastener.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for attaching soft tissue to a single bone, or to first and second bones, or to a single prosthetic implant, or to first and second prosthetic implants, the device comprising:
 a first attachment device including a first clamp comprising a porous metallic material, the first clamp including a first surface, a convex tissue engaging surface opposite the first surface, and a throughhole extending from the first surface to the convex tissue engaging surface;   a fastener dimensioned for placement in the throughhole of the first clamp, the fastener being dimensioned to engage a surface of the first clamp, the soft tissue and the single bone, the first bone, the single prosthetic implant, or the first prosthetic implant such that the soft tissue is compressed between the tissue engaging surface and the single bone, the first bone, the single prosthetic implant, or the first prosthetic implant; and   a second attachment device including a first part comprising a porous metallic material and a mating second part comprising a porous metallic material, wherein the soft tissue is compressed between the first part and the second part.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the convex tissue engaging surface of the first clamp has a first curvature, 
 the single bone, the first bone, the single prosthetic implant, or the first prosthetic implant includes a depression of a second curvature, 
 the first clamp is adapted to compress the soft tissue between the tissue engaging surface of the first clamp and a concave surface of the depression of the single bone, the first bone, the single prosthetic implant, or the first prosthetic implant, and 
 the first curvature is greater than the second curvature. 
 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a grommet arranged in the throughhole. 
 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the convex tissue engaging surface includes a raised section around the throughhole. 
 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first clamp includes a periphery having a shape selected from circular, rectangular, elliptical and oval. 
 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first clamp includes a second throughhole for receiving a second fastener. 
 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first part comprises a first channel, 
 the second part comprises a second channel, and 
 the soft tissue is compressed between an inner surface of the first channel of the first part and an inner surface of the second channel of the second part. 
 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein:
 the first part and the second part form a frustoconical shape when mated together. 
 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the porous metallic material of the first clamp comprises titanium, 
 the porous metallic material of the first part comprises titanium, and 
 the porous metallic material of the second part comprises titanium. 
 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the convex tissue engaging surface of the first clamp is dome shaped. 
 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the device is for attaching soft tissue to first and second bones, 
 the first bone being the tibia, and 
 the second bone being the femur. 
 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein:
 the second attachment device is dimensioned to be received in a tunnel in the femur. 
 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  wherein:
 the second attachment device is dimensioned to be wedged in the tunnel in the femur. 
 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11  wherein:
 the first part includes a first semicircular end and a second semicircular end of greater radius than the first semicircular end, and 
 the second part includes a first semicircular end and a second semicircular end of greater radius than the first semicircular end. 
 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11  wherein:
 the convex tissue engaging surface of the first clamp has a first curvature, 
 the tibia includes a depression of a second curvature, 
 the first clamp is adapted to compress the soft tissue between the tissue engaging surface of the first clamp and a concave surface of the depression of the tibia, and 
 the first curvature is greater than the second curvature. 
 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 11  wherein:
 the first clamp is configured such that a gap between the tissue engaging surface of the first clamp and the concave surface of the depression of the tibia is bigger near a periphery of the first clamp and smaller centrally near the fastener when the soft tissue is compressed between the tissue engaging surface and the tibia. 
 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second clamp comprising a porous metallic material, the second clamp including a first surface and a concave tissue engaging surface opposite the first surface, 
 wherein the second clamp is adapted to be received in a depression in the single bone, the first bone, the single prosthetic implant, or the first prosthetic implant, and 
 wherein the first clamp is adapted to compress the soft tissue between the tissue engaging surface of the first clamp and the tissue engaging surface of the second clamp. 
 
     
     
         18 . A method for attaching soft tissue to a tibia and a femur, the method comprising:
 placing soft tissue adjacent the tibia;   placing a first clamp comprising a porous metallic material adjacent the soft tissue, the first clamp including a first surface and a convex tissue engaging surface opposite the first surface,   inserting a fastener through a throughhole in the first clamp, through the soft tissue and into the tibia such that the soft tissue is compressed between the tissue engaging surface and the tibia;   positioning the soft tissue between a first part and a mating second part of a second attachment device such that the soft tissue is compressed between the first part and the second part, the first part comprising a porous metallic material and the second part comprising a porous metallic material, and   securing the second attachment device in a tunnel of the femur.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein:
 the soft tissue is a ligament replacement. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein:
 the first part comprises a first channel, 
 the second part comprises a second channel, and 
 the soft tissue is compressed between an inner surface of the first channel of the first part and an inner surface of the second channel of the second part.