Channel ligament clamp and system

Abstract

A ligament fixation device and system for its use that includes a channel ligament clamp (10) fabricated for human implantation and consisting of a channel section having a web (13) between parallel sides wherefrom sections have been removed leaving spaced apart pointed spikes (11) that extend outwardly from walls (12), the channel web including a group of pointed pins (15) that extend therefrom parallel and alongside the spikes (11), and at least one screw-type fastener hole (14) formed therethrough. The system of the invention includes tooling for locating a ligament on a bone surface and scoring that surface for drilling. After drilling, a right angle post (22) of a drilling guide (21) is fitted into that drilled hole (20) and the drill guide longitudinal axis is aligned with the ligament location on the bone surface, which drilling guide has an array of spike and pin holes formed therethrough for receiving a drill turned individually therethrough into the bone surface. In practice, the clamp (10) is positioned over the drilled holes, with a ligament under tension therebetween and the pointed pins (15) are driven through the ligament and into the prepared pin holes, preferably utilizing a seating tool (30), and a screw (40) is turned through the web hole (19) and the ligament into the prepared hole (20), to sandwich the ligament that is contained between the clamp spikes (12) against the bone surface.