Adjustable All-Suture Anchor for Tissue Fixation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for attaching torn soft tissues to bones, such as suture anchors, often require knot-tying, which is time-consuming and difficult in tight surgical spaces, and lack adjustable tensioning capabilities.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable, knotless all-suture anchor system using an all-suture anchor assembly with a suture strand and an adjustable self-locking device, allowing for precise tensioning of soft tissues without knot-tying, by passing the suture strand through loop members and clinching portions to secure the tissue to the bone.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional suture anchors requiring knot-tying are used, then secure tissue attachment is achieved, but surgical time increases and operation difficulty increases in tight spaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure tissue attachmentVSAvoidsurgical time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the knot-tying step from the traditional suture anchor procedure. The all-suture anchor system uses pre-configured suture loops and cinching mechanisms that secure tissue without requiring the surgeon to tie knots, directly resolving the contradiction between secure attachment and surgical time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The suture anchor system incorporates self-cinching and self-locking features where the suture mechanism automatically secures the tissue without requiring manual knot-tying by the surgeon. The suture loop configuration and cinching action create self-sustaining fixation, eliminating the time-consuming knot-tying step while maintaining secure attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If traditional suture anchors requiring knot-tying are used, then secure tissue attachment is achieved, but operational complexity increases in tight surgical spaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure tissue attachmentVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the complex knot-tying maneuver from the surgical procedure. By using pre-formed suture loops and a cinching mechanism that secures tissue through pulling and locking rather than knot-tying, the system dramatically simplifies the operational steps required in tight surgical spaces while maintaining secure attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using knots to secure the suture to tissue, the invention inverts the approach by using a cinching mechanism where the suture is pulled tight and locked in place through a reverse action - the suture end is pulled through a loop and locked, creating fixation without the traditional knot-tying motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If standard suture anchor procedures are used, then tissue attachment is achieved, but tension adjustment capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue attachmentVSAvoidtension adjustment capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention incorporates a dynamic cinching mechanism that allows the surgeon to adjust suture tension progressively. The all-suture anchor system enables controlled pulling and cinching of the suture to achieve desired tissue tension before final locking, providing adaptability in tension adjustment that static knot-tying systems cannot offer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows preliminary tensioning and adjustment of the suture before final securing. The cinching mechanism enables the surgeon to pull the suture to the desired tension level and make adjustments before the final lock is engaged, providing adaptability that is lost once a traditional knot is tied.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Object-affected harmful factors

If all-suture anchors are used instead of solid anchors, then risk of joint surface damage is reduced, but tensioning control precision must be increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejoint surface damage riskVSAvoidtensioning control precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the solid mechanical anchor that interfaces directly with bone (potential source of joint surface damage) with an all-suture construction that creates mechanical interference through suture loops and cinching. This substitution eliminates the rigid anchor component while maintaining secure fixation through carefully controlled suture tensioning and locking mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11819204B2Adjustable all-suture anchoring assembly and method

Publication Date: 2023.11.21 THAL RAYMOND

AI summary

A method and system for secure attachment of tissue to bone and other anatomical structure is disclosed. The system includes an all-suture anchor assembly including an all-suture anchor having at least one suture strand and an all-suture anchoring element threaded along the suture strand. The system also includes an adjustable self-locking device including a length of suture passing through at least one clinching portion.