Instrument for manual insertion of button

Abstract

A button inserter includes a shaft having a fulcrum that extends beyond a distal tip of the shaft. An inner rod is within the shaft and has a button mating surface that extends from a distal tip of the inner rod. A handle includes a handle switch that translates the inner rod between an extended position where the button mating surface of the inner rod extends beyond the distal tip of the shaft and a retracted position where the button mating surface of the inner rod is located completely within the shaft.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A button inserter comprising:
 a shaft having a fulcrum extending beyond a distal tip of the shaft, the distal tip of the shaft having congruent mating surfaces that constrain translational and rotational motion;   an inner rod within the shaft having a button mating surface extending from a distal tip of the inner rod, mating surfaces of the inner rod communicate with the mating surfaces of the shaft; and   a handle including a handle switch that translates the inner rod between a) an extended position where the button mating surface of the inner rod extends beyond the distal tip of the shaft and b) a retracted position where the button mating surface of the inner rod is located completely within the shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The button inserter as recited in  claim 1  wherein the handle includes a resilient member and a slide both located inside the handle, wherein the resilient member moves the slide away from a distal end of the handle to retract the inner rod when the handle switch is released. 
     
     
         3 . A surgical system comprising:
 a) a button inserter comprising:
 i) a shaft including a fulcrum that extends from a distal tip of the shaft; 
 ii) an inner rod within the shaft having a button mating surface extending from a distal tip of the inner rod; and 
 iii) a handle including a handle switch that translates the inner rod between an extended position where the button mating surface of the inner rod extends beyond the distal end of the shaft and a retracted position where the button mating surface of the inner rod is completely within the shaft; 
   b) an oblong button including a congruent mating surface to the button mating surface of the inner rod of the button inserter, wherein the oblong button is constrained rotationally and translationally by the fulcrum of the shaft and the button mating surface on the inner rod of the inserter when the oblong button is attached to the inserter in the extended position; and   c) a suture strand passing through an opening of the oblong button.   
     
     
         4 . The surgical system as recited in  claim 3  comprising a second button. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical system as recited in  claim 4  wherein the handle includes a groove and a pair of resilient arms, and the second button is located in the groove and secured to the handle by the pair of resilient arms. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical system as recited in  claim 3  wherein the oblong button is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shaft in an initial position and the second button is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft in a deployed position. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical system as recited in  claim 4  wherein the second button is a round button. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical system as recited in  claim 4  wherein the suture strand passes through an opening of the second button. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical system of  claim 8  wherein the suture strand imparts an off-axis tensile force between the oblong button and the second button. 
     
     
         10 . A surgical method comprising the steps of:
 a) inserting an oblong button into a bone tunnel, wherein the oblong button is mated to a button inserter including:
 i) a shaft including a fulcrum that extends from a distal tip of the shaft, 
 ii) an inner rod within the shaft having a button mating surface extending from a distal tip of the inner rod, and 
 iii) a handle including a handle switch that translates the inner rod between an extended position where the button mating surface of the inner rod extends beyond the distal end of the shaft and a retracted position where the button mating surface of the inner rod is completely within the shaft; 
   b) releasing the handle switch, whereby the button matting surface retracts into the shaft of the button inserter to allow rotational motion about a transverse axis of the oblong button.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the oblong button is secured against a bone surface. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the suture strand is tightened. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein a second button is secured against a bone surface or bone plate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the second button is a round button. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the bone tunnel is through a tibia, fibula, or both a tibia and a fibula.