Adjustable Suture Anchor Eyelet for Knotless Bone Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical techniques for securing sutures to bone, such as the Arthrex PushLock method, face difficulties in threading sutures through small apertures, making it challenging to manage sutures during surgery.
Innovation Solution
A knotless suture anchor assembly with an adjustable eyelet loop removably attached to a driver shaft, allowing for easier passage of sutures through an enlarged eyelet loop, which is then secured in a bone socket using an interference device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a small aperture eyelet implant is used in the driver, then the interference fixation and secure anchoring are achieved, but the suture threading becomes difficult to manage during surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The eyelet loop is divided into two functional segments: a large aperture section for easy suture threading and a small aperture section for secure interference fixation. This segmentation allows the device to simultaneously provide both easy suture loading and reliable anchoring in the bone socket.
Solution Approach 2:
The eyelet loop transitions from a two-dimensional planar structure to a three-dimensional configuration with variable aperture sizes. By creating a loop that has a large opening in one dimension and a small opening in another dimension, the design enables both easy suture passage and secure fixation.
2Ease of operation
If a large aperture eyelet is used to facilitate suture threading, then the suture passage becomes easier, but the interference fixation and secure anchoring are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The eyelet loop is divided into two functional segments: a large aperture section for easy suture threading and a small aperture section for secure interference fixation. This segmentation allows the device to simultaneously provide both easy suture loading and reliable anchoring in the bone socket.
Solution Approach 2:
The eyelet loop transitions from a two-dimensional planar structure to a three-dimensional configuration with variable aperture sizes. By creating a loop that has a large opening in one dimension and a small opening in another dimension, the design enables both easy suture passage and secure fixation.
3Device complexity
If a fixed-size eyelet loop is used, then the device structure is simple, but the suture eyelet cannot be adjusted to capture the flexible strand securely
Solution Approach 1:
The eyelet loop is designed with dynamic adjustability, allowing its size to be modified after the flexible strand is passed through. This dynamic characteristic enables the eyelet to transition from a large opening (for easy threading) to a captured state (for secure retention), providing both ease of operation and reliable strand capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameters of the eyelet loop, specifically its aperture size and shape, can be changed after the flexible strand is threaded through. This parameter change capability allows the eyelet to adapt to different strand sizes and provide secure capture while maintaining structural simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques and reconstruction systems for knotless tissue fixation using a driver with a cannulated interference device or fixation device preloaded on the shaft of the driver. An eyelet, adjustable in size, is formed of a loading suture provided at the distal end of the driver shaft. A working suture attached to the tissue to be fixed is passed through the eyelet. The size of the eyelet is adjusted by the user once the working suture is passed through the eyelet, to capture the working suture with the eyelet. The cannulated interference device is then advanced down the shaft to secure the working suture in a bone socket.