US 12,419,632 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, Warsaw, IN (US)
Filed by Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC, Warsaw, IN (US)
Filed on Aug. 18, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/235,540.
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 18/235,540 is a continuation of application No. 17/545,668, filed on Dec. 8, 2021, granted, now 11,786,236.
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.
Prior Publication US 2023/0389916 A1, Dec. 7, 2023
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 2017/0404 (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 2017/044 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0445 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0448 (2013.01); A61B 2017/045 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0458 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0464 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0475 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0496 (2013.01); A61B 2017/06185 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0641 (2013.01); A61F 2002/0829 (2013.01); A61F 2002/0852 (2013.01); A61F 2002/0864 (2013.01); A61F 2002/087 (2013.01); A61F 2002/0882 (2013.01); A61F 2002/0888 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49826 (2015.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of repairing a bicep tendon, the method comprising:
forming a bore in an ulna of a patient;
locating an adjustable suture construct at least partially inside the bore with a portion of an adjustable loop of the adjustable suture construct coupled to a bicep tendon outside the bore, the adjustable suture construct being constructed from a suture that includes a first free end that is made to pass extend longitudinally through a hollow longitudinal passage in the suture to form the adjustable loop, wherein said locating leaves at least part of the hollow longitudinal passage inside the bore and anchored to the ulna; and pulling on the first free end of the suture from outside the bore following said locating so as to reduce a size of the adjustable loop,
wherein the suture is coupled to a bone engaging member that is delivered into the bore with the suture,
wherein said locating additionally leaves the hollow longitudinal passage extending through a portion of the bone engaging member,
wherein the bore extends fully through the ulna from a first opening in a first outer surface of the ulna to a second opening in a second outer surface of the ulna, and wherein the bone engaging member can obtain a first profile for passing fully through the ulna from the first opening to the second opening and can be converted to a second profile outside the ulna for contacting bone around the second opening for inhibiting passage of the bone engaging member back through the second opening.