Abstract: A method and apparatus for reconstructing a ligament using a graft ligament support block which comprises a body, and a graft hole and a transverse fixation pin hole extending through the body, with both the graft hole and the fixation pin hole preferably extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body. A graft ligament is looped through the graft hole, and the support block is advanced into the bone tunnel, with the two free ends of the looped graft ligament extending back out the bone tunnel. Next, a transverse tunnel is formed in the host bone, with the transverse tunnel being aligned with the fixation pin hole. Then the support block is secured in place by pinning the support block within the tunnel, i.e., by advancing a fixation pin along the transverse tunnel in the host bone and into the fixation pin hole in the support block.

Abstract: A graft ligament is looped through a graft hole in a graft ligament support block, and the graft ligament support block is mounted to an installation tool. Then the installation tool is used to advance the graft ligament support block into a bone tunnel, with the two free ends of the looped graft ligament extending back out the bone tunnel. Next, a transverse tunnel is formed in the host bone, with the transverse tunnel being aligned with a transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block. Then the graft ligament support block is secured in place by pinning the graft ligament support block within the tunnel, i.e., by advancing a transverse fixation pin along the transverse tunnel and into the transverse fixation pin hole in the graft ligament support block. Then the installation tool is detached from the graft ligament support block and withdrawn from the surgical site.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for reconstructing a ligament. A graft ligament support block comprises a body, a graft hole, and a transverse fixation pin hole extending through the body. An installation tool is provided for inserting the support block into a bone tunnel and forming a transverse tunnel aligned with the pin hole. In use, a graft ligament is looped through the graft hole, and the support block is mounted to the tool. The tool is used to advance the support block into the bone tunnel, with two free ends of the graft ligament extending out the bone tunnel. A transverse tunnel is formed aligned with the pin hole. The support block is secured in place by pinning the support block within the tunnel by advancing a fixation pin along the transverse tunnel and into the pin hole in the support block.

Abstract: An encapsulation device for repair of articular cartilage defects includes a body for disposition adjacent a bone in an area of the cartilage defect, and elongated leg structure extending from the body and for disposition in the bone in the area of the cartilage defect. The leg structure is provided with a length which is a plurality of magnitudes greater than a thickness of the body, and is of a generally conical configuration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reconstructing a ligament using a graft ligament support block which comprises a body, and a graft hole and a transverse fixation pin hole extending through the body, with both the graft hole and the fixation pin hole preferably extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body. A graft ligament is looped through the graft hole, and the support block is advanced into the bone tunnel, with the two free ends of the looped graft ligament extending back out the bone tunnel. Next, a transverse tunnel is formed in the host bone, with the transverse tunnel being aligned with the fixation pin hole. Then the support block is secured in place by pinning the support block within the tunnel, i.e., by advancing a fixation pin along the transverse tunnel in the host bone and into the fixation pin hole in the support block.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reconstructing a ligament using a graft ligament support block which comprises a body, and a graft hole and a transverse fixation pin hole extending through the body, with both the graft hole and the fixation pin hole preferably extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body. A graft ligament is looped through the graft hole, and the support block is advanced into the bone tunnel, with the two free ends of the looped graft ligament extending back out the bone tunnel. Next, a transverse tunnel is formed in the host bone, with the transverse tunnel being aligned with the fixation pin hole. Then the support block is secured in place by pinning the support block within the tunnel, i.e., by advancing a fixation pin along the transverse tunnel in the host bone and into the fixation pin hole in the support block.