Manufacturing technology and device for osteoporosis huge rotator cuff sewing absorbable button
By using a method of blending and granulating PLLA particles and β-TCP powder followed by controlled-temperature annealing, the problem of insufficient strength in absorbable button parts was solved, and a high-strength absorbable button suitable for osteoporotic rotator cuff sutures was prepared, achieving efficient and stable mechanical support and absorption performance.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202511554575.2
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-10-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-24
AI Technical Summary
Existing absorbable button parts have insufficient absorbability and strength during manufacturing, which cannot meet the high-strength mechanical requirements of osteoporotic rotator cuff sutures during the healing period.
PLLA granules and β-TCP powder are blended evenly, granulated and dried by a co-rotating twin-screw extruder, and then annealed at a controlled temperature in a stress relief device after injection molding to eliminate internal stress and improve crystallinity and strength.
Absorbable buttons with high mechanical support and absorbability are manufactured, significantly enhancing mechanical properties and long-term stability, ensuring high efficiency and high quality in shoulder and sleeve sewing.
Smart Images

Figure CN121552589A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical device manufacturing technology, and in particular to a manufacturing technology and device for suturing absorbable buttons for osteoporotic rotator cuffs. Background Technology
[0002] Traditional metal suture buttons present numerous problems in osteoporotic patients at the greater tuberosity of the humerus: stress shielding leading to bone resorption, permanent retention potentially interfering with imaging examinations (such as MRI), and difficulties in revision surgery. Therefore, absorbable buttons are needed. However, existing absorbable materials often lack sufficient absorption capacity and strength, and their low strength cannot meet the mechanical requirements of high-strength healing after surgery for massive rotator cuff tears. Thus, it is necessary to manufacture high-strength absorbable suture button parts suitable for osteoporotic massive rotator cuff sutures. The manufacturing process requires corresponding technologies and equipment to support the absorbable parts and strength performance. For example, in the manufacturing of absorbable buttons through injection molding, the polymer chains are forcibly stretched and frozen, resulting in a large amount of internal stress. Therefore, uniform annealing is required (non-uniform annealing leads to large dispersion in mechanical properties, easy product deformation, and unpredictable strength and degradation curves). Annealing, by heating to a temperature where the chain segments can move, relaxes them, thereby eliminating internal stress and preventing performance degradation during storage or use, enabling the absorbable button parts to have the strength required for osteoporotic massive rotator cuff sutures.
[0003] In summary, existing absorbable button parts suitable for osteoporotic rotator cuff sutures have shortcomings in terms of absorbability during manufacturing and low part strength. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The present invention aims to overcome the shortcomings of existing absorbent button parts, such as low absorbency and low strength during manufacturing, and provides a manufacturing technology and device for suturing absorbent buttons for osteoporotic giant shoulder cuffs that enhances absorbability and strength.
[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A manufacturing technique for absorbable buttons for osteoporotic rotator cuff sutures, including... Step 1: Use a high-speed mixer to blend PLLA particles and β-TCP powder evenly; Step 2: The blended composite material is granulated into uniformly dispersed composite masterbatch using a co-rotating twin-screw extruder, and the moisture in the composite masterbatch is removed by a dehumidifying dryer to ensure it is fully dried. Step 3: The dried composite masterbatch is injection molded into absorbable parts using an injection molding machine; Step 4: The stress relief device includes a preparation chamber and an annealing chamber. The loading tray in the preparation chamber is automatically positioned in batches to place the molded absorbable button parts and prepare for the annealing transition temperature. Step 5: Place the loading tray into the annealing chamber, control the temperature of the annealing chamber for annealing, and obtain absorbable button parts with high stability and crystallinity, and then remove them.
[0006] PLLA particles provide more durable mechanical support, while β-TCP powder (which undergoes rigorous sterilization and surface treatment to ensure good bonding with the polymer matrix) provides osteoconductivity, promotes osseointegration, and increases the coefficient of friction on the implant surface, thus improving absorbability. PLLA particles and β-TCP powder are uniformly blended in a high-speed mixer to create a composite material for absorbable buttons. The blended composite material is then granulated into a composite masterbatch using a co-rotating twin-screw extruder. Uniformly dispersed masterbatch prevents agglomeration, and the high shear force of the co-rotating twin-screw extruder effectively breaks up agglomerated particles, achieving uniform distribution. A dehumidifying dryer removes moisture from the composite masterbatch to ensure thorough drying, as moisture can cause hydrolysis during high-temperature processing, producing bubbles and defects that severely reduce absorbability. The product's mechanical properties require thorough drying at a specific temperature (e.g., 80°C, 4 hours) to remove trace amounts of moisture. An injection molding machine injects the dried composite masterbatch into absorbable button parts. The injection-molded absorbable button parts are then placed in the preparation chamber of a stress-relief device for positioning and arrangement, ensuring the surface of the parts participates in drying as much as possible. The prepared absorbable button parts are then placed in an annealing chamber to maintain them at a specific temperature for a period of time, uniformly and efficiently eliminating internal stress, improving crystallinity, stabilizing dimensions, and preventing suture pull-out or button breakage, rotator cuff re-tear, and the formation of sharp fragments or premature loss of structural support due to uneven button degradation within weeks to months post-surgery, which can cause friction and irritation to surrounding soft tissues (such as rotator cuff remnants). This process achieves the goal of preparing absorbable buttons suitable for osteoporotic patients with large rotator cuffs with high mechanical support and absorbability, high preparation efficiency, significantly enhanced mechanical properties and long-term stability of absorbable buttons, and ultimately, ultra-high initial strength.
[0007] Preferably, the annealing transition temperature in step four is 80°C to 120°C. Maintaining a high temperature enhances the molecular chain mobility within the part, thereby increasing the stress relief rate and accelerating crystallinity growth. Simultaneously, it prevents excessively high temperatures (>120°C) from causing excessively rapid grain growth or product adhesion and deformation. This achieves the effect of ensuring efficient and stable stress relief for the part.
[0008] Preferably, the stress relief device includes an operating platform and a feeding box. The feeding box is connected to one side of the operating platform. The preparation chamber is the inner cavity of the feeding box. The feeding tray is inserted into the feeding box. The preparation chamber is connected to a feeding plate with a feeding port. The feeding plate is movably connected to a storage cylinder. The preparation chamber is connected to a guide positioning bracket. The feeding tray has a limiting groove. The feeding box is installed on the operating platform. The preparation chamber is connected to the feeding plate and the feeding tray from top to bottom. The feeding tray is installed in the feeding box by insertion and limiting. The feeding plate is arranged horizontally and has several feeding ports. The storage cylinder is used to stack the absorbable button parts after injection molding. The inner cavity of the storage cylinder is connected vertically. By moving the storage cylinder, the parts are moved and sequentially placed into the feeding ports in the path. The parts enter from the feeding ports and accurately enter the limiting groove of the feeding tray through the auxiliary absorbable button parts connected by the guide positioning bracket. The width of the positioning groove and the limiting groove are equal to or slightly larger than the thickness of the part. The depth of the limiting groove is shallow relative to the length and width of the part. This allows multiple absorbable button parts to be automatically fed onto the feeding tray and inserted vertically into the tray. This prevents the need for manual arrangement of parts during stress relief and also prevents parts from being stacked, which could lead to uneven hot air circulation and inconsistent annealing results. Consequently, the parts as a whole or the bone bridge (the connection between holes in the parts) are prone to breakage under stress, loosening before absorption, and failure to fuse with the rotator cuff bone surface. This achieves high-efficiency positioning and feeding, uniform annealing for high-quality annealing, consistent annealing heat treatment and annealing effect, thus eliminating stress evenly, ensuring high strength during osteoporotic rotator cuff sutures, and ensuring close contact with the bone surface for smooth absorption and fusion.
[0009] Preferably, the storage cylinder has a storage chamber. One side of the lower opening of the storage chamber has a clearance groove, and the other side has a discharge groove. A push plate is rotatably connected to the discharge groove, and the push plate is connected to an elastic mechanism. The elastic mechanism is connected to the storage cylinder, and a stop block is connected to the inlet. The storage cylinder holds absorbable buttons through the storage chamber. The clearance groove is a recessed structure on one side of the storage cylinder's feeding direction. The discharge groove is opposite to the clearance groove on the other side, allowing the stop block to pass through the clearance groove during storage cylinder movement and push the parts to the push plate, exiting from the discharge groove and remaining at the inlet. The width of the inlet is greater than half the width of the parts, allowing the parts to automatically enter the inlet under gravity. The length of the stop block extending beyond the inlet is less than the thickness of the absorbable button parts, ensuring that the stop block only pushes a single layer of parts. This achieves automatic layer-by-layer feeding during storage cylinder movement and prevents parts from stacking and affecting heat circulation. This achieves the effect of further improving the positioning efficiency and heating uniformity of absorbable parts, and ensuring consistent annealing heating and annealing effects.
[0010] Preferably, the guide positioning bracket includes a support plate, a guide ramp, and a movable plate. The feeding tray is provided with a movable hole one and a movable hole two. Movable hole one is located on one side of the limiting groove and is connected to the limiting groove. Movable hole two is located on the other side of the limiting groove. The support plate is inserted into movable hole one, and the movable plate is inserted into movable hole two. The feeding tray is connected to the guide ramp, and one end of the movable plate abuts against the guide ramp. The limiting groove has an L-shaped cross-section on the surface of the feeding tray. Movable holes one and two are located on opposite sides of the limiting groove. The support plate inside movable hole one can be inserted and moved up and down within it, ensuring that the part is limited when entering from the feed inlet. After entering the limiting groove, it moves down to be flush with the groove opening, exposing more of the part surface and reducing the clamping contact area. The movable plate inserted into movable hole two has a gap between it and the limiting groove, allowing a guide plate to catch the part falling from the feed inlet and guide it into the limiting groove via an inclined surface. The inclined guide plate does not contact the heated part, ensuring uniform contact of hot air with the part. This achieves improved stability in limiting absorbable parts and ensures uniform heating of the parts, thus guaranteeing high strength.
[0011] Preferably, the feeding tray is equipped with a mounting groove with a positioning hole, and the guide ramp has a mounting through hole. A rotating rod is inserted into the mounting through hole, and the rotating rod is inserted into the positioning hole. The guide ramp can rotate stably in the mounting groove via the rotating rod. While the moving plate supports the guide ramp to maintain its inclined state, the upward movement of the moving plate can push the guide ramp, so that the guide ramp assists in pushing the part vertically upright within the limiting groove to achieve clamping and limiting. This improves the stability and limiting accuracy of the limiting operation for absorbable parts.
[0012] Preferably, the other end of the moving plate is connected to a sliding end, and the bottom of the feeding box is connected to a push seat. The surface cross-section of the push seat is arc-shaped, and the sliding end is spherical. The sliding end is slidably connected to the push seat. The other end of the moving plate is connected to the spherical sliding end, and the push seat is connected to the bottom of the feeding box and positioned to one side of the sliding end. When the feeding tray is removed from the feeding box for drying, the sliding end moves upward via the push seat, thus moving the push plate. This eliminates the need for manual operation of the moving plate auxiliary parts, thereby improving the efficiency of the stress relief device in limiting the workpiece.
[0013] Preferably, the support plate is connected to an end plate, which in turn is connected to an elastic mechanism two. The elastic mechanism two is connected to a feeding tray, which is connected to a fixing block. The fixing block has an elastic mechanism three, one end of which is connected to the fixing block, and the other end of which is connected to a guide ramp. The end plate is connected at the end of the support plate that does not contact the parts. Inside the feeding box, the end plate abuts against the bottom of the box to compress the elastic mechanism two, allowing the support plate to automatically descend after the feeding tray is removed, without manual operation. The feeding tray is connected to the elastic mechanism three via the fixing block, ensuring that the guide ramp accurately and stably maintains its tilted state when guiding materials or leaving parts, without manual operation. This further improves the stability and efficiency of the stress relief device during annealing.
[0014] Preferably, a work box is connected to the other side of the operating table, and the work box is connected to a control system. The annealing chamber is the inner cavity of the work box, and the annealing chamber is connected to several metal heat sinks. The metal heat sinks are connected to heating wires. An air circulation mounting plate is connected to the bottom of the work box, and a fan is connected to the air circulation mounting plate. A return air chamber is provided at the bottom of the work box, and a static pressure chamber is provided at the top of the work box. An air duct is provided between the return air chamber and the static pressure chamber and they are connected. A flow equalization plate is connected to the static pressure chamber. Both the air circulation mounting plate and the flow equalization plate are provided with air holes and are connected to the annealing chamber. The heating wires and the fan are electrically connected to the control system. The work box is connected to one side of the preparation box, allowing the loading tray to be directly removed from the preparation chamber and placed into the annealing chamber for annealing. Metal heat sinks are installed on the chamber walls and floor, and heating wires inserted within these heat sinks form a wall heating module for more uniform heating of the parts. During heating, a fan drives the heat flow through the air vents on the air circulation plate and the fan itself, entering the return air chamber and duct, and exiting from the static pressure chamber. The heat is then evenly distributed onto the parts on the loading tray through the air vents on the flow equalization plate, eliminating heating dead zones and ensuring a more uniform and slower heat flow for stress relief during annealing. The control system is connected to the outside of the drying oven to control the internal heating and airflow. This further improves the annealing uniformity of absorbable button parts, significantly increases stress relief efficiency, and ensures part strength.
[0015] Preferably, the annealing chamber is connected to a supporting base rod, which has several tray supports. One end of each tray support is connected to the supporting base rod, and the other end is connected to a positioning block. The annealing chamber is connected to the supporting tray supports via the supporting base rod, allowing the loading tray to be placed on the tray supports for heating. The supporting base rod and tray supports ensure sufficient heating of the bottom of the loading tray, and the positioning blocks help position the loading tray in a suitable heating position. This achieves the effect of ensuring uniform heating of the button parts and efficient stress relief.
[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are: it enables the fabrication of absorbable buttons suitable for osteoporotic scalpel sutures with high mechanical support and absorbability; it has high fabrication efficiency; it significantly enhances the mechanical properties and long-term stability of absorbable buttons, resulting in ultra-high initial strength; it ensures the efficiency and stability of stress relief for parts; it achieves high-quality annealing through efficient positioning and feeding, and uniform annealing, ensuring consistent annealing heating and annealing effects; and it improves the stability and accuracy of the limiting operation for absorbable parts. Attached Figure Description
[0017] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of the manufacturing technology for absorbable buttons; Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional diagram of a stress relief device; Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Side view; Figure 4 This is a side view of the loading box; Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A sectional view; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the storage cylinder and the feed plate; Figure 7 This is a diagram showing the connection between the loading tray and the positioning socket; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the guide ramp and the loading pallet; Figure 9 This is a sectional view of the work box; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the pallet support rod and the support base rod.
[0018] In the diagram: 1. Stress relief device, 2. Preparation chamber, 3. Annealing chamber, 4. Loading tray, 5. Operating table, 6. Loading box, 7. Feeding plate, 8. Feeding port, 9. Storage cylinder, 10. Limiting groove, 11. Storage cavity, 12. Clearance groove, 13. Discharge groove, 14. Push plate, 15. Elastic mechanism one, 16. Stop block, 17. Support plate, 18. Guide inclined plate, 19. Moving plate, 20. Movable hole one, 21. Movable hole two, 22. Mounting groove, 23. Air hole, 24. Mounting through hole, 25. Rotating rod, 2 6. Sliding end, 27. Push seat, 28. End plate, 29. Elastic mechanism II, 30. Fixing block, 31. Elastic mechanism III, 32. Working box, 33. Control system, 34. Metal heat sink, 35. Heating wire, 36. Air circulation mounting plate, 37. Fan, 38. Return air chamber, 39. Static pressure chamber, 40. Air duct, 41. Flow equalization plate, 42. Support base rod, 43. Tray support rod, 44. Positioning stop, 45. Filter plate, 46. Positioning socket, 47. Positioning slot, 48. Handle, 49. Cabinet door. Detailed Implementation
[0019] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative and is in no way intended to limit this application or its application or use. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.
[0020] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to this application. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.
[0021] Unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions, and values of components illustrated in these embodiments do not limit the scope of this application. For ease of illustration, spatial relative terms such as “up,” “down,” “left,” and “right” are used in the embodiments to describe the relationship of one element or feature shown in the figures relative to another element or feature. It should be understood that, in addition to the orientations shown in the figures, spatial terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation. For example, if the device in the figure is inverted, an element described as being “below” other elements or features would be positioned “up” other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “down” can include both up and down orientations. The device may be positioned in other ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative descriptions used herein can be interpreted accordingly. It should also be understood that, for ease of description, the dimensions of the various parts shown in the figures are not drawn to actual scale. Techniques, processes, and equipment known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such techniques, processes, and equipment should be considered part of the specification. In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as limitations. Therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters in the following figures denote similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it need not be discussed further in subsequent figures.
[0022] Furthermore, it should be noted that the use of terms such as "first" and "second" to define components is merely for the purpose of distinguishing the corresponding components. Unless otherwise stated, the above terms have no special meaning and therefore cannot be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this application.
[0023] Example 1: like Figure 1 As shown, a manufacturing technique for an absorbable button made by suturing a large rotator cuff in patients with osteoporosis includes... Step 1: Use a high-speed mixer to blend PLLA particles and β-TCP powder evenly; Step 2: The blended composite material is granulated into uniformly dispersed composite masterbatch using a co-rotating twin-screw extruder, and the moisture in the composite masterbatch is removed by a dehumidifying dryer to ensure it is fully dried. Step 3: The dried composite masterbatch is injection molded into absorbable parts using an injection molding machine; Step 4: The stress relief device 1 includes a preparation chamber 2 and an annealing chamber 3. The feeding tray 4 in the preparation chamber 2 automatically positions and places the molded absorbable button parts in batches, preparing them for the annealing transition temperature. Step 5: Place the loading tray 4 into the annealing chamber 3, control the temperature of the annealing chamber 3 for annealing, and obtain absorbable button parts with high stability and crystallinity, and then take them out.
[0024] The annealing transition temperature in step four is 80°C ~ 120°C (above the Tg of PLLA).
[0025] like Figure 2-5 As shown, the stress relief device 1 includes an operating table 5 and a feeding box 6. The feeding box 6 is connected to one side of the operating table 5. The preparation chamber 2 is the inner cavity of the feeding box 6. The feeding tray 4 is inserted into the feeding box 6. The preparation chamber 2 is connected to a feeding plate 7. The feeding plate 7 is provided with a feeding port 8. The feeding plate 7 is movably connected to a storage cylinder 9. The preparation chamber 2 is connected to a guide positioning bracket. The feeding tray 4 is provided with a limiting groove 10.
[0026] like Figure 5 , 6 As shown, the storage cylinder 9 is provided with a storage chamber 11. A clearance groove 12 is provided on one side of the lower opening of the storage chamber 11, and a discharge groove 13 is provided on the other side of the lower opening. A push plate 14 is rotatably connected to the discharge groove 13. An elastic mechanism 15 is connected to the push plate 14. The elastic mechanism 15 is connected to the storage cylinder 9.
[0027] like Figure 7As shown, the feed inlet 8 is connected to a baffle block 16. The guide positioning bracket includes a support plate 17, a guide inclined plate 18, and a movable plate 19. The feeding tray 4 is provided with a first movable hole 20 and a second movable hole 21. The first movable hole 20 is located on one side of the limiting groove 10 and is connected to the limiting groove 10. The second movable hole 21 is located on the other side of the limiting groove 10. The support plate 17 is inserted into the first movable hole 20, and the movable plate 19 is inserted into the second movable hole 21. The feeding tray 4 is connected to the guide inclined plate 18, and one end of the movable plate 19 abuts against the guide inclined plate 18.
[0028] like Figure 8 As shown, the feeding tray 4 is provided with a mounting groove 22, the mounting groove 22 is provided with a positioning insertion hole, the guide inclined plate 18 is provided with a mounting through hole 24, a rotating rod 25 is inserted into the mounting through hole 24, and the rotating rod 25 is inserted into the positioning insertion hole.
[0029] like Figure 6 As shown, the other end of the movable plate 19 is connected to a sliding end 26, and the bottom of the loading box 6 is connected to a push seat 27. The surface cross-section of the push seat 27 is arc-shaped, and the structure of the sliding end 26 is spherical. The sliding end 26 is slidably connected to the push seat 27. The support plate 17 is connected to an end plate 28, and the end plate 28 is connected to an elastic mechanism 29. The elastic mechanism 29 is connected to the loading tray 4, and the loading tray 4 is connected to a fixed block 30. The fixed block 30 is provided with an elastic mechanism 31. One end of the elastic mechanism 31 is connected to the fixed block 30, and the other end of the elastic mechanism 31 is connected to the guide inclined plate 18.
[0030] like Figure 9 , 10 As shown, a work box 32 is connected to the other side of the operating table 5. The work box 32 is connected to the control system 33. The annealing chamber 3 is the inner cavity of the work box 32. Several metal heat sinks 34 are connected to the annealing chamber 3. The metal heat sinks 34 are connected to heating wires 35. The bottom of the work box 32 is connected to a wind circulation mounting plate 36. The wind circulation mounting plate 36 is connected to a fan 37. The bottom of the work box 32 is provided with a return air chamber 38. The top of the work box 32 is provided with a static pressure chamber 39. A duct 40 is provided between the return air chamber 38 and the static pressure chamber 39 and they are connected. The static pressure chamber 39 is connected to a flow equalization plate 41. Both the wind circulation mounting plate 36 and the flow equalization plate 41 are provided with air holes 23 and are connected to the annealing chamber 3. The heating wires 35 and the fan 37 are electrically connected to the control system 33. Annealing chamber 3 is connected to a support base rod 42. The support base rod 42 is provided with several tray support rods 43. One end of each tray support rod 43 is connected to the support base rod 42, and the other end of each tray support rod 43 is connected to a positioning block 44.
[0031] like Figure 1-10As shown: the high-speed mixer, co-rotating twin-screw extruder, dehumidifying dryer, injection molding machine (micro precision), heating wire 35, and fan 37 (high-temperature resistant centrifugal fan or cross-flow fan) all use existing technology equipment. Elastic mechanisms 1-15, 2-29, and 3-31 all use existing spring structures. The weight of the feeding tray 4 can compress the elastic force of elastic mechanism 2-29, allowing elastic mechanism 2-29 to compress when the support plate 17 is pushed, relax when the external force is lost, and move the support plate 17. Elastic mechanism 2-29 still retains some inward contraction margin when passing the pusher seat 27.
[0032] The work box 32 has a three-layer structure (not shown in the figure) consisting of an outer shell (made of aluminum plate or steel plate), an inner liner (made of stainless steel plate), and a 5-8 cm thick interlayer insulation layer (made of high-temperature rock wool or ceramic fiber cotton). This structure provides high temperature resistance and good heat insulation. The heating wire 35 is made of nickel-chromium alloy wire and generates heat when energized. The metal heat sink 34 is made of aluminum sheet. The heating wire 35 is inserted into the metal heat sink so that the heat source dissipates heat evenly on the wall surface.
[0033] The control system 33 adopts an existing PID temperature controller with program control function, supports multi-stage heating and cooling for easy temperature adjustment. The control system 33 is connected to a solid-state relay (SSR, not shown in the figure). The SSR controls the heating power supply through the output signal. The working box 32 has a built-in over-temperature protection sensor (not shown in the figure) to immediately cut off the power supply when the temperature exceeds the limit to prevent safety accidents.
[0034] The air circulation mounting plate 36 is connected to a filter plate 45, which has fine filter holes to prevent particles that could be absorbed from falling button parts from being drawn into the return air chamber 38. The openings of the preparation chamber 2 and the annealing chamber 3 are both hinged to cabinet doors 49 for opening and closing.
[0035] The preparation chamber 2 is connected to a positioning socket 46, which is provided with a positioning slot 47. One end of the loading tray 4 is inserted into the positioning slot 47 to fit, so that the loading tray 4 can be limited by the positioning socket 46 in the preparation chamber 2 for more precise docking with the feed inlet 8. The other end of the loading tray 4 is connected to a handle 48 for easy picking up of the loading tray 4.
[0036] The position of the pallet support rod 43 is staggered from the positions of the support plate 17 and the movable plate 19 to prevent it from affecting the placement of the loading pallet 4 in the annealing chamber 3.
[0037] Before setting the temperature and time through the control system 33 during annealing, a DSC test is required to determine the initial Tg and crystallinity of the shaped absorbable button part, so as to select a suitable specific annealing temperature and time to obtain the best-performing absorbable button for osteoporotic rotator cuff sutures.
[0038] The specific steps are as follows: Product shaping: PLLA granules and β-TCP powder are blended evenly in a high-speed mixer to form a composite material for absorbent buttons; the blended composite material is granulated into composite masterbatch using a co-rotating twin-screw extruder; the moisture in the composite masterbatch is removed by a dehumidifying dryer to ensure it is fully dried; the absorbent button parts are produced by injection molding using an injection molding machine. Product annealing: Open cabinet door 49 of preparation chamber 2, place loading tray 4 into preparation chamber 2, extend it to a certain position and press down to insert the top of loading tray 4 into positioning slot 47, so that elastic mechanism 29 is compressed and support plate 17 rises from movable hole 20 on loading tray 4. The storage cylinder 9 contains injection-molded absorbable button parts. When the storage cylinder 9 moves radially and passes the inlet 8, the parts are limited by the stop block 16 and the push plate 14 of the discharge groove 13 is opened and stays at the inlet 8. After the storage cylinder 9 completely leaves, the parts fall into the inlet 8 under the action of the center of gravity and are guided by the guide plate 18 and limited by the support plate 17, and then enter the limiting groove 10. After the storage cylinder 9 moves to the end of the preparation chamber 2, all parts are loaded. The loading tray 4 is pulled outward, and as it passes the pusher seat 27, the sliding end 26 slides upward along the arc surface of the pusher seat 27. This guides the inclined plate 18 to overcome the elastic mechanism 31 and rotate inward, thus arranging the parts and ensuring they enter the limiting groove 10. After the loading tray 4 is completely removed from the preparation chamber 2, the support plate 17 descends to clamp the parts with a small area of contact with the groove surface of the limiting groove 10. The loading tray 4 is then placed on the tray support plate 43 of the annealing chamber 3, and the cabinet door 49 of the annealing chamber 3 is closed. The drying temperature and time are set by the control system 33 to perform annealing stress relief, resulting in absorbable buttons with significantly enhanced mechanical properties and long-term stability that can be used for osteoporotic rotator cuff sutures.
[0039] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit them. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.
Claims
1. A manufacturing technique for suturing absorbable buttons to address osteoporotic rotator cuff defects, characterized in that, include Step 1: Use a high-speed mixer to blend PLLA particles and β-TCP powder evenly; Step 2: The blended composite material is granulated into uniformly dispersed composite masterbatch using a co-rotating twin-screw extruder, and the moisture in the composite masterbatch is removed by a dehumidifying dryer to ensure it is fully dried. Step 3: The dried composite masterbatch is injection molded into absorbable parts using an injection molding machine; Step 4: The stress relief device (1) includes a preparation chamber (2) and an annealing chamber (3). The loading tray (4) in the preparation chamber (2) automatically positions and places the molded absorbable button parts in batches, preparing for the annealing transition temperature. Step 5: Place the loading tray (4) into the annealing chamber (3), control the temperature of the annealing chamber (3) for controlled annealing, and obtain absorbable button parts with high stable crystallinity and take them out.
2. The manufacturing technique for an absorbable button for osteoporotic rotator cuff sutures according to claim 1, characterized in that, The annealing transition temperature in step four is 80°C to 120°C.
3. The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbable button for osteoporotic rotator cuff sutures according to claim 1, characterized in that, The stress relief device (1) includes an operating table (5) and a feeding box (6). The feeding box (6) is connected to one side of the operating table (5). The preparation chamber (2) is the inner cavity of the feeding box (6). The feeding tray (4) is inserted into the feeding box (6). The preparation chamber (2) is connected to a feeding plate (7). The feeding plate (7) is provided with a feeding port (8). The feeding plate (7) is movably connected to a storage cylinder (9). The preparation chamber (2) is connected to a guide positioning bracket. The feeding tray (4) is provided with a limiting groove (10).
4. The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbable button for osteoporotic rotator cuff sutures according to claim 3, characterized in that, The storage cylinder (9) is provided with a storage cavity (11). A clearance groove (12) is provided on one side of the lower cavity opening of the storage cavity (11), and a discharge groove (13) is provided on the other side of the lower cavity opening. A push plate (14) is rotatably connected to the discharge groove (13). An elastic mechanism (15) is connected to the push plate (14). The elastic mechanism (15) is connected to the storage cylinder (9). A baffle block (16) is connected to the feed inlet (8).
5. The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbable button for osteoporotic rotator cuff sutures according to claim 3, characterized in that, The guide positioning bracket includes a support plate (17), a guide inclined plate (18), and a movable plate (19). The loading tray (4) is provided with a first movable hole (20) and a second movable hole (21). The first movable hole (20) is located on one side of the limiting groove (10) and is connected to the limiting groove (10). The second movable hole (21) is located on the other side of the limiting groove (10). The support plate (17) is inserted into the first movable hole (20). The movable plate (19) is inserted into the second movable hole (21). The loading tray (4) is connected to the guide inclined plate (18). One end of the movable plate (19) abuts against the guide inclined plate (18).
6. The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbable button for osteoporotic rotator cuff sutures according to claim 5, characterized in that, The feeding tray (4) is provided with a mounting groove (22), the mounting groove (22) is provided with a positioning insertion hole, the guide plate (18) is provided with a mounting through hole (24), the mounting through hole (24) is connected to a rotating rod (25), and the rotating rod (25) is connected to the positioning insertion hole.
7. The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbable button for osteoporotic rotator cuff sutures according to claim 5, characterized in that, The other end of the moving plate (19) is connected to a sliding end (26), and the bottom of the feeding box (6) is connected to a push seat (27). The surface cross-section of the push seat (27) is arc-shaped, and the structure of the sliding end (26) is spherical. The sliding end (26) is slidably connected to the push seat (27).
8. The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbable button for osteoporotic rotator cuff sutures according to claim 5, characterized in that, The support plate (17) is connected to the end plate (28), the end plate (28) is connected to the second elastic mechanism (29), the second elastic mechanism (29) is connected to the loading tray (4), the loading tray (4) is connected to the fixing block (30), the fixing block (30) is provided with the third elastic mechanism (31), one end of the third elastic mechanism (31) is connected to the fixing block (30), and the other end of the third elastic mechanism (31) is connected to the guide inclined plate (18).
9. The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbable button for osteoporotic rotator cuff sutures according to claim 3, characterized in that, The other side of the operating table (5) is connected to a work box (32), which is connected to a control system (33). The annealing chamber (3) is the inner cavity of the work box (32). The annealing chamber (3) is connected to several metal heat sinks (34), which are connected to heating wires (35). The bottom of the work box (32) is connected to a wind circulation mounting plate (36), which is connected to a fan (37). (32) has a return air chamber (38) at the bottom and a static pressure chamber (39) at the top of the work box (32). A duct (40) is provided between the return air chamber (38) and the static pressure chamber (39) and they are connected. The static pressure chamber (39) is connected to a flow equalization plate (41). The air circulation mounting plate (36) and the flow equalization plate (41) are both provided with air holes (23) and are connected to the annealing chamber (3). The heating wire (35) and the fan (37) are both electrically connected to the control system (33).
10. The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbable button for osteoporotic rotator cuff sutures according to claim 9, characterized in that, The annealing chamber (3) is connected to a support base rod (42), and the support base rod (42) is provided with several tray support rods (43). One end of each tray support rod (43) is connected to the support base rod (42), and the other end of each tray support rod (43) is connected to a positioning block (44).