ACL Tether for Ligament Healing and Knee Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, including activity modification and surgical reconstruction, are inadequate as they fail to restore the necessary biomechanical environment for healing, leading to poor patient satisfaction and functional impairment due to issues like graft site morbidity, inadequate healing, and loss of proprioceptive function.
Innovation Solution
A surgically inserted internal tether between the femur and tibia is used to maintain the proper mechanical environment for ACL healing, allowing full range of motion and controlled mechanical loading, thereby preventing distraction and facilitating the healing of the ACL in a functionally worthy state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surgical reconstruction with biological graft is performed, then the ACL function is restored, but graft site morbidity and inadequate graft to bone healing occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the damaged ACL ligament tissue through debridement, eliminating the source of pain and instability while preparing clean bone surfaces for direct healing. This extraction approach avoids the morbidity associated with graft insertion sites while achieving functional restoration through proper ligament repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary debridement and preparation of the ligament and bone surfaces before final repair. This preliminary action removes damaged tissue and creates optimal conditions for healing, preventing subsequent complications and ensuring adequate graft to bone healing without requiring complex reconstruction procedures.
2Stability of the object's composition
If activity modification is implemented, then the patient avoids subluxation, but the patient must give up sports and experiences functional impairment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables the ACL to heal and function autonomously through proper surgical repair and stabilization. The repaired ligament restores its own protective function against subluxation, eliminating the need for permanent activity modification. Patients can return to sports and high-level activities once the ligament has healed, achieving self-service stability without lifelong restrictions.
3Ease of manufacture
If ACL reconstruction with tunnel drilling is performed, then the graft can be passage, but the tunnels alter the bony architecture and may cause premature closure of open growth plates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the damaged ACL ligament through debridement, eliminating the need for tunnel drilling and graft passage. This approach preserves the natural bony architecture and growth plates while achieving ligament repair through direct visualization and secure fixation without creating artificial tunnels in the bone.
4Ease of manufacture
If primary suture repair is attempted, then the torn ligament can be repaired, but the stitch is difficult to place and retain within the short ligament tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a specialized suture anchor as an intermediary device that simplifies suture placement within the short ligament tissue. The anchor provides a secure fixation point that is easier to place and retain compared to direct suture placement, enabling reliable ligament repair without complex manual manipulation of the suture through the limited tissue available.
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method to provide a surgically inserted internal tether between the femur and tibia is provided which will prevent distraction of the healing anterior cruciate ligament in all degrees of flexion and extension, at all times. The anterior cruciate ligament tether preserves the four-bar cruciate linkage, critical for normal knee mechanics. In addition, placement of the tether provides bleeding into the knee in the region of the anterior cruciate ligament attachment sites and the consequent inflow of pluripotential cells and healing mediators.