CPC A61F 2/0811 (2013.01) [A61F 2002/0841 (2013.01); A61F 2002/0882 (2013.01); A61F 2240/008 (2013.01)] | 3 Claims |
1. A method for an installation of a connective-tissue-structure within a prepared bone tunnel in a portion of bone, the connective-tissue structure defining, prior to the installation, a non-compressed connective tissue structure having a non-compressed perimeter including a non-compressed cross-sectional area, the bone tunnel configured to receive an installation of a precompressed connective-tissue-structure produced from the non-compressed connective tissue structure through a bone tunnel opening, the bone tunnel including a bone tunnel portion and the bone tunnel opening having a tunnel perimeter defining a bone tunnel opening cross-sectional area less than the non-compressed cross-sectional area, the precompressed connective-tissue-structure including a precompressed exterior perimeter defining a precompressed cross-sectional area less than the bone tunnel opening cross-sectional area and an end, and the installation including the end disposed within the bone tunnel portion, wherein the precompressed connective-tissue-structure includes an expansion bias configured to increase the exterior perimeter after disposition within the bone tunnel portion, comprising the steps of:
operating a bone-shaping implement configured to produce a non-cylindrical bone tunnel having a bone tunnel profile including the bone tunnel portion; and
shaping the portion of bone of the bone tunnel portion using said bone-shaping implement to create a non-cylindrical bone tunnel portion;
installing the precompressed connective tissue within said non-cylindrical bone tunnel portion producing an installed precompressed connective-tissue-structure;
and thereafter
decompressing automatically said installed precompressed connective-tissue-structure within said non-cylindrical bone tunnel portion producing a decompressed connective-tissue-structure, said decompressed connective-tissue-structure engaging the non-cylindrical bone tunnel portion;
wherein said decompressed connective-tissue-structure includes both the end and a decompressed exterior connective tissue perimeter defining a decompressed cross sectional area greater than the precompressed cross-sectional area and equal to or greater than the bone tunnel opening cross-sectional area; and
wherein said non-cylindrical bone tunnel portion is configured, in cooperation with said decompressed connective-tissue-structure installed within the bone tunnel, for a non-sliding rententive fixation of said decompressed connective-tissue-structure within said non-cylindrical bone tunnel by direct application of a press fit fixation force at a bone-decompressed-connective-tissue-structure interface inside the prepared bone tunnel;
wherein said non-sliding rententive fixation does not include a foreign fixation body disposed within the bone tunnel portion.
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