FR2679439A1 - Element for consolidation or replacement of a ligament in the shape of a quadrilateral - Google Patents

Abstract

Element for consolidation or replacement of a ligament, characterised in that it comprises a flexible and permeable central piece (1), provided at each of its longitudinal ends with at least one fastening tab (2).

Description

ELEMENT OF CONSOLIDATION OR REPLACEMENT OF A LIGAMENT IN
QUADRILATER SHAPE ".

 The present invention relates to a ligament consolidation or replacement element.

 Generally, when a ligament is failing, it is necessary to replace it with an artificial ligament or to graft a reinforcing ligament. The artificial or natural ligaments which are used in this case are fixed either directly in place of the failing ligament, or in duplicate next to the latter.

 This method of attachment poses problems of bulk and presents risks as to the resistance of the bone parts on which the adjunct ligaments are placed.

 Indeed, the anchor points of the grafted ligaments are generally located in the immediate vicinity of the natural attachments and thus weaken the bone support area.

 The present invention aims to solve the above problems or at least to mitigate them.

 This object is achieved in accordance with the invention by means of an element for consolidating or replacing a ligament, characterized in that it comprises a flexible and permeable central part, provided at each of its longitudinal ends with at least a mounting lug.

 According to an advantageous characteristic, said central part consists of a quadrilateral forming a mesh network whose longitudinal edges are connected to said fixing lugs by a plurality of converging links.

 According to another characteristic, said network is made from braided fibers of high performance polyethylene and preferably by weaving a knotless net on a loom of the RACHEL type.

 According to a first embodiment, the fixing lugs are in the form of laces.

 According to another embodiment, the fixing lugs comprise eyecups.

 The present invention optionally makes it possible to conserve the defective natural ligament which is then doubled by the consolidation element.

 In addition, the fixing lugs of said part can be adapted so as to be attached at determined points in the bone zone without causing any embrittlement.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, accompanied by the appended drawing in which
- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the element of the invention.

 The element shown in FIG. 1 comprises a central part constituted by a quadrilateral 1 forming a flexible network with meshes la and therefore permeable to fluids.

 This quadrilateral 1 is preferably a square, the longitudinal edges lb of which are connected to fixing lugs 2 by a plurality of converging links 3.

 The links 3 are distributed at regular intervals over the longitudinal edges lb.

 The quadrilateral network 1 is advantageously made from braided fibers of high performance polyethylene (in order to have a resistance of at least 380 kg) by weaving a knot-free net on a RACHEL type loom.

 The fixing lugs 2 are in the form of a lace 2a possibly terminating in an eyelet 2b.

 Preferably, the network, the converging links and the fixing lugs are made of the same material, possibly made of biodegradable material.

 The element of the invention can be placed in place of the natural ligament.

 According to an alternative embodiment, the quadrilateral network 1 is folded on itself to enclose the natural ligament to be consolidated with which it is possibly sutured.

 According to a particular embodiment, the quadrilateral network 1 comprises twenty eight overlapping wires forming a loop or eyelet 2b then divided to be braided into a fixing lug 2 by 9.5 cm.

 The braid thus obtained is itself divided on the first longitudinal edge into seven braids of four threads forming the Links 3 to be worked on about 2.5 cm.

 The seven braids are tucked in every Smm to obtain a square network in "twisted mat" with a side of 3 cm. On the other longitudinal edge, twenty eight twisted threads come out of the "twisted mat" every 5 mm and grouped, as on the first longitudinal edge, into seven braids of four threads to be braided over 2.5 cm (links 3) then the twenty eight wires are crossed and grouped in braid over 9.5 cm (fixing tab 2).

Claims (6)

1.- Element for consolidating or replacing a ligament, characterized in that it comprises a central piece (1) flexible and permeable provided at each of its longitudinal ends with at least one fixing lug (2). 2.- element according to claim 1, characterized in that said part (1) consists of a quadrilateral forming a mesh network whose longitudinal edges are connected to said fixing lugs by a plurality of converging links (3). 3.- Element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fixing tab (2) is in the form of a lace (2a). 4.- Element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fixing lug (2) comprises an eyelet (2b). 5.- Element according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said quadrilateral is a square of 3cm side. 6.- Element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said piece is made from braided fibers of high performance polyethylene by weaving a knotless net on a loom of the RACHEL type.