Suspension device to anchor tissue graft

Abstract

A tissue graft suspension device includes a platform member defining an opening, a suture having a first portion and a second portion, and a fixation member mating with the opening in the platform member. The first portion and the second portion pass through the opening such that a third portion of the suture forms a loop for attachment to a tissue graft. The fixation member includes a retaining mechanism configured to allow the first portion or the second portion to pass through the opening in a manner that decreases a size of the loop and to prevent the first portion or the second portion of the suture from passing through the opening in a manner that increases a size of the loop.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A tissue graft suspension device comprising:
 a bushing member defining an opening;   a suture having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and second portion passing through the opening such that a third portion of the suture between the first portion and the second portion connects the bushing member to a platform member; and   a fixation member mating with the opening in the bushing member, the fixation member including a retaining mechanism configured to allow the first portion or the second portion of the suture to pass through the opening in a manner that decreases a length of the third portion and to prevent the first portion or the second portion from passing through the opening in a manner that increases the length of the third portion.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the fixation member is configured to slide through the opening in the bushing member. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the retaining mechanism includes a first wedge and a second wedge,   the bushing member includes a first groove and a second groove, the first portion of the suture passes through the first groove and the second portion of the suture passes through the second groove; and   the first wedge engages with the first groove such that the first portion of the suture is able to move in a direction that decreases the length of the third portion but is prevented from moving in a direction opposite the first direction to increase the length of the third portion; and   the second wedge engages with the second groove such that the second portion of the suture is able to move in a second direction that decreases the length of the third portion but is prevented from moving in a direction opposite the second direction to increase the length of the third portion.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the first wedge and the second wedge each include a tapered structure. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the first wedge and the second wedge each include at least one step member. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein:
 a first passage is at a first end of the fixation member, the third portion of the suture passes through the first passage;   a second passage is at a second end of the fixation member opposite from the first end, the second passage to receive another suture for attachment to a tissue graft;   the first wedge and the second wedge are between the first passage and the second passage; and   the first portion of the suture and the second portion of the suture pass through the first passage such that a force on the bushing member exerted away from the platform member causes the first wedge to engage the first groove and the second wedge to engage the second groove.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein a length of the fixation member is greater than a thickness of the bushing member such that the first passage extends beyond a bottom surface of the bushing member and the second passage extends beyond a top surface of the bushing member. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the platform member includes a second opening and a third opening, each to receive a respective end of the suture that is passed through the opening. 
     
     
         17 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method of securing a tissue graft, the method comprising:
 providing a bushing member having a suture attached thereto, the suture having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion passing through an opening defined in the bushing member such that a third portion of the suture between the first portion and the second portion connects the bushing member to a platform member;   providing a fixation member to mate with the opening in the bushing member, the fixation member including a retaining mechanism configured to allow the first portion or the second portion of the suture to pass through the opening in a manner that decreases a length of the third portion and to prevent the first portion or the second portion from passing through the opening in a manner that increases the length of the third portion;   attaching another suture to the fixation member;   attaching the other suture to a tissue graft; and   adjusting the length of the third portion by causing the first portion or the second portion to pass through the opening in the manner that decreases the length of the third portion.   
     
     
         20 . The method of claim  169  comprising:
 passing the suture through openings defined in the platform member; and 
 passing the platform member, the suture, the bushing member, and the fixation member through a bone passage, followed by adjusting the length of the third portion.