Medical apparatus and method for attaching a suture to a bone

Abstract

A method of forming a channel in a bone, the method comprising: providing a first bore in the bone; and forming, a second bore in the bone at a predefined angle from said first bore, using said first bore as a reference point for defining the location of the second bore in the bone, wherein the first and second bores intersect in the bone.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical implement comprising:
 an elongate element comprising a proximal end for manual grasping and a distal end for engagement with a bone;   a first passageway formed in the elongate element and extending from said proximal end to said distal end of the elongate element; and   an arm formed in said distal end of the elongate element,   wherein a part of the elongate element formed with the first passage way is movable by retraction and extension of a resilient member from a retracted position to an extended position along or parallel to an axis of said elongate element and wherein the arm, the part of the elongate element and the resilient member provide for clamping the bone.   
     
     
         2 . An implement according to  claim 1 , wherein said implement further comprises a manually manipulatable member coupled to said resilient member for moving said resilient member to said extended and retracted positions. 
     
     
         3 . A medical implement according to  claim 1 , wherein the arm comprises a second passageway including a grasper movable to an extended position with respect to the second passageway where the grasper extends from the second passageway and to a retracted position where the grasper is entirely positioned inside the second passageway. 
     
     
         4 . An implement according to  claim 3 , wherein the grasper is permanently coupled to said second passageway. 
     
     
         5 . An implement according to  claim 3 , wherein said elongate element includes a second manually manipulatable member coupled to said grasper for moving the grasper to its extended and retracted positions. 
     
     
         6 . An implement according to  claim 1 , wherein said arm is formed as a single piece with bends. 
     
     
         7 . An implement according to  claim 1 , wherein said arm is bent such that the portion of the arm engaging the bone is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the elongate element. 
     
     
         8 . An implement according to  claim 1 , wherein said resilient member comprises a spring. 
     
     
         9 . An implement according to  claim 1 , wherein the passageway is urged in an axial direction of the elongate element toward the arm by extension of the resilient member. 
     
     
         10 . An implement according to  claim 1 , wherein the passageway is configured for receiving a drill for drilling a bore through said bone. 
     
     
         11 . An implement according to  claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism for clamping the implement to the bone. 
     
     
         12 . A medical implement, comprising:
 an arm that is formed with a bend having a distal end configured to engage a bone;   an elongate passageway for placement against a bone,   wherein an axis defined by the distal end of the arm and the point of the bone to which the arm is engaged is substantially perpendicular to an axis of the elongate passageway; and   a grasper adapted to be extended from the arm and grasp an end of a suture and pass it through a bore in the bone,   wherein said passageway is movable by retraction and extension of a resilient member towards and away from said arm clamping implement.   
     
     
         13 . A medical implement according to  claim 12 , wherein said resilient member provides for clamping the bone between the arm engaged to the bone and the passageway placed against the bone. 
     
     
         14 . A medical implement according to  claim 13 , wherein the passageway is adapted to receive a drill for frilling a bore in the bone when the implement is clamped to the bone. 
     
     
         15 . A medical implement according to  claim 12 , wherein the grasper is movable to an extended position with respect to the arm where the grasper extends from the arm and to a retracted position where the grasper is entirely positioned inside the arm. 
     
     
         16 . An implement according to  claim 15 , wherein said implement includes a manually manipulatable member coupled to said grasper for moving the grasper to its extended and retracted positions. 
     
     
         17 . An implement according to  claim 12 , wherein the grasper is permanently coupled to the arm. 
     
     
         18 . The implement according to  claim 12 , wherein said grasper is adapted to grasp a first end of a suture and pass it through a bore in the bone, while a second end of the suture is left outside the bone. 
     
     
         19 . An implement according to  claim 12 , further comprising a locking mechanism for clamping the implement to the bone. 
     
     
         20 . An implement according to  claim 12 , wherein said passageway extends longitudinally through the implement.