Achilles Tendon Suture Guide for Precise Minimal-Incision Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tendon repair devices struggle with inadequate strength of repair and potential soft tissue problems due to uneven suture placement, especially in minimal incision surgeries where the surgeon cannot visually confirm proper tendon targeting, leading to weak or failed repairs.
Innovation Solution
An Achilles tendon repair device with internal instrumentation that manipulates the tendon into a larger target area, allowing for precise suture placement and adjustable needle angles, ensuring better tendon engagement and reducing elongation risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a small incision is used for tendon repair, then soft tissue problems are reduced and operating room time is shortened, but the surgeon cannot visually verify proper tendon targeting and suture placement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guide device as an intermediary tool that bridges the gap between the small incision constraint and the need for precise suture placement. The guide device includes a guide shaft inserted through the small incision that extends into the tendon, providing a physical reference for accurate needle insertion while maintaining the benefits of minimal incision surgery
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the surgeon's visual inspection mechanism with a mechanical guidance system. Instead of relying on direct sight through a small incision, the system uses a guide device with a guide shaft and guide channel that mechanically directs the suture needle through the tendon, ensuring precise placement without requiring visual confirmation
2Device complexity
If manual needle advancement is used without guides, then device complexity is reduced, but suture placement uniformity deteriorates and repair strength is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the guide device into functional segments: a guide shaft for insertion, guide channels for needle direction, and a handle for manipulation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity. The guide channels are formed as continuous paths that segment the needle insertion process into controlled, uniform passes through the tendon
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of needle insertion from uncontrolled manual advancement to controlled guidance through defined channels. The guide channels specify the spatial parameters (direction, depth, angle) of needle insertion, ensuring uniform suture placement that maximizes tendon engagement and repair strength without requiring complex multi-component devices
3Strength
If multiple suture passes through the tendon are performed, then repair strength is improved, but the time required for the procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by inserting the guide shaft and establishing the guide channels before performing the suture passes. This preliminary setup defines the exact path and parameters for all subsequent needle insertions, allowing multiple suture passes to be performed quickly and uniformly without repeated measurement and adjustment, thereby reducing overall procedure time while maintaining repair strength
Data Source
AI summary
An Achilles tendon repair device comprises a handle for physician gripping and base having a first set of tendon rods disposed in an arcuate or U-shaped pattern about the base to engage the posterior surface of the tendon and impart a contour, or drape, the tendon in the posterior-anterior plane to increase the surface area for suturing. A second set of suture guide rods extend from the sides of the base and are spaced apart to allow insertion of suture needles along the entire length of the suture guide rods, and at any angle. A suture needle housing guide can be slidingly attached to the suture guide rods and includes sidewalls with predefined suture holes/angles. An adjustable clamping arm can engage the tendon's posterior surface such that the device grasps the tendon on both the anterior and posterior tendon surfaces simultaneously, while increasing posterior-anterior plane surface area to facilitate suturing.