Graft Compression System for ACL Reconstruction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional ACL reconstruction surgery faces complications such as suboptimal healing environments and increased micro-motion due to the significant volume of bone tunnels drilled, leading to tissue trauma, swelling, and graft failure, which can be mitigated by reducing the diameter of soft tissue tendon grafts.
Innovation Solution
A graft compression system using an elongate compression tube made of shape memory alloys or other materials, which can be manually operated to reduce the diameter of soft tissue tendon grafts by 50% or more, creating a biologic compressive fit that minimizes micro-motion and eliminates the need for interference screws and buttons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional ACL reconstruction surgery uses standard diameter grafts and bone tunnels, then the graft can be easily inserted and fixed with screws or buttons, but this causes significant tissue trauma, swelling, and creates a suboptimal healing environment with increased micro-motion
Solution Approach 1:
The graft is compressed to a reduced diameter before insertion into the bone tunnel. This preliminary compression action allows the graft to be inserted into a smaller bone tunnel, reducing tissue trauma and swelling, while the compression device is removed after insertion, leaving the graft in its compressed state for optimal healing
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameter of the graft (diameter) is changed from its original state to a compressed state. The compression device applies mechanical force to reduce the graft diameter to approximately 50% of its original size, creating a tight fit within the bone tunnel that minimizes micro-motion and improves healing environment
2Object-affected harmful factors
If bone tunnels are drilled with significant volume to accommodate standard grafts, then the graft can be easily inserted, but this causes increased tissue trauma and a suboptimal healing environment
Solution Approach 1:
The graft is pre-compressed to a reduced diameter before insertion, allowing it to be placed into a smaller bone tunnel with minimal tissue disruption. The compression is maintained during insertion, and the device is removed afterward, leaving the graft in its compressed, trauma-reducing state
Solution Approach 2:
The compression device encompasses the graft during the compression process, allowing the graft to be reduced in size while protected within the device. The device acts as a container that applies uniform compression forces to achieve the desired reduced diameter
3Reliability
If traditional fixation methods using interference screws and buttons are used, then the graft can be securely fixed, but this increases the risk of graft failure and complications
Solution Approach 1:
The invention eliminates the need for interference screws and buttons by using a compression-only approach. The graft is compressed to fit tightly within the bone tunnel, and the fixation is achieved through compression alone, removing the harmful elements (screws and buttons) that cause graft failure and complications
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potential harm of a loose graft (which would require invasive fixation devices) into a benefit by using compression to create a tight fit. The compression force that initially reduces the graft diameter becomes the beneficial fixation mechanism, eliminating the need for additional fixation devices and their associated complications
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system allows for reduced trauma and swelling, faster tissue recovery, and improved healing environments by creating a biologic compressive fit within the bone tunnel, reducing the volume of bone tunnels required and minimizing complications associated with traditional fixation methods.
Implementation Method 1
an elongate compression tube made of shape memory alloys or other materials, which can be manually operated to reduce the diameter of soft tissue tendon grafts
Data Source
AI summary
A graft compression system for compressing soft tissue grafts used in connection with reconstructive surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The graft compression system includes a compression chamber having an elongate hollow shaft body having two ends that are threaded to mate with correspondingly threaded collet nuts. Collets are removably inserted into, and engage, the collet nuts fastened to opposing ends of the compression chamber A surgical graft may be inserted into a hollow compression tube having a lumen with a compressible diameter, said compression tube being sized for insertion into the collets and compression chamber. When such collet nuts are tightened by a user of the graft compression system, the inner diameters of the respective collet nuts nested within such collet nuts are decreased, causing the diameter of the lumen of the hollow compression tube to in turn be decreased and compress the surgical graft within.