Fixation device for a ligament or tendon prosthesis

摘要

A device for affixing a pretensioned ligament or tendon prosthesis to a bone of a patient includes a hollow elongated sleeve adapted to fit within a through drill hole in the bone and a cooperating wedge. A portion of the bore of the hollow sleeve is tapered with decreasing bore cross-sectional thickness towards the front end of the elongated sleeve. Th wedge is shaped so that a portion of a ligament or tendon prosthesis can be securely trapped between the wedge and the inner wall of the sleeve when the wedge is fully advanced forwardly within the sleeve. The device also includes a locking nut or ferrule for releasably locking the sleeve and wedge together with the wedge fully advanced within the sleeve, and a releasable bolt/washer assembly for preventing the prosthesis from being pulled forwardly through the drill hole in the patient's bone. The device is easy to use and provides a highly secure fixation of the pretensioned prosthesis.