US 11,786,236 B2
Method and apparatus for coupling anatomical features
Gregory J. Denham, Warsaw, IN (US); and Kevin T. Stone, Winona Lake, IN (US)
Assigned to Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC, Warsaq (IN)
Filed by Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC, Warsaw, IN (US)
Filed on Dec. 8, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/545,668.
Application 14/324,688 is a division of application No. 13/412,116, filed on Mar. 5, 2012, granted, now 8,771,316.
Application 13/412,116 is a division of application No. 12/196,407, filed on Aug. 22, 2008, granted, now 8,137,382.
Application 17/545,668 is a continuation of application No. 16/436,023, filed on Jun. 10, 2019, granted, now 11,259,792.
Application 16/436,023 is a continuation of application No. 15/288,183, filed on Oct. 7, 2016, granted, now 10,398,428.
Application 15/288,183 is a continuation of application No. 14/324,688, filed on Jul. 7, 2014, granted, now 9,498,204.
Application 12/196,407 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/014,399, filed on Jan. 15, 2008, granted, now 7,909,851.
Application 12/014,399 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/014,340, filed on Jan. 15, 2008, granted, now 7,905,904.
Application 12/014,340 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/935,681, filed on Nov. 6, 2007, granted, now 7,905,903.
Application 11/935,681 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/869,440, filed on Oct. 9, 2007, granted, now 7,857,830.
Application 11/869,440 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/784,821, filed on Apr. 10, 2007, granted, now 9,017,381.
Application 11/784,821 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/541,506, filed on Sep. 29, 2006, granted, now 7,601,165.
Application 11/541,506 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/347,662, filed on Feb. 3, 2006, abandoned.
Application 11/347,662 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/347,661, filed on Feb. 3, 2006, granted, now 7,749,250.
Prior Publication US 2022/0096074 A1, Mar. 31, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/04 (2006.01); A61B 17/06 (2006.01); A61F 2/08 (2006.01); A61B 17/064 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/0401 (2013.01) [A61B 17/04 (2013.01); A61B 17/0469 (2013.01); A61B 17/0487 (2013.01); A61B 17/06166 (2013.01); A61F 2/08 (2013.01); A61F 2/0811 (2013.01); A61B 2017/044 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0404 (2013.01); A61B 2017/045 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0409 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0412 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0414 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0417 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0419 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0445 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0448 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0458 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0464 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0475 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0496 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0641 (2013.01); A61B 2017/06185 (2013.01); A61F 2002/087 (2013.01); A61F 2002/0829 (2013.01); A61F 2002/0852 (2013.01); A61F 2002/0864 (2013.01); A61F 2002/0882 (2013.01); A61F 2002/0888 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49826 (2015.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A bone fixation assembly, comprising:
an orthopedic button; and
an adjustable suture construct coupled to the orthopedic button, the adjustable suture construct comprised of a suture with a first suture portion passing through the orthopedic button from a first side of the orthopedic button to a second side of the orthopedic button and then back through the orthopedic button from the second side of the orthopedic button to the first side of the orthopedic button so as to form a first looped portion of the suture retained along the second side of the orthopedic button for coupling the adjustable suture construct to the orthopedic button, the suture further including a second suture portion passing through the orthopedic button from the first side of the orthopedic button to the second side of the orthopedic button and then back through the orthopedic button from the second side of the orthopedic button to the first side of the orthopedic button so as to form a second looped portion of the suture retained along the second side of the orthopedic button for coupling the adjustable suture construct to the orthopedic button,
wherein the suture includes a hollow longitudinal passage therein, and wherein, within the adjustable suture construct, a first free end of the suture extends in a longitudinal manner through the hollow longitudinal passage to form a longitudinal tensioning portion of the adjustable suture construct, wherein the longitudinal tensioning portion, upon formation, resists reverse relative movement of the first free end of the suture through the hollow longitudinal passage,
wherein, within the bone fixation assembly, the longitudinal tensioning portion is retained on the first side of the orthopedic button opposite the first looped portion and the second looped portion of the suture which are retained along the second side of the orthopedic button.