Adjustable Suture Loop Fixation for Stable Soft Tissue Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for securing soft tissues to bones or other tissues are inefficient and lack effective mechanisms for maintaining tension and stability post-surgery.
Innovation Solution
A flexible suture construct with adjustable loops and a locking member is used to pass through the first tissue, allowing for tensioning and compression between the first and second tissues, secured by anchors on both tissues and locked by an elongated member within the loops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional suture methods are used to fix soft tissue to bone, then the procedure is simple to perform, but the fixation lacks stability and tension maintenance capability
Solution Approach 1:
The suture construct is divided into multiple functional segments: adjustable loops for tissue engagement, tensioning members for force application, and locking members for securing. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, improving fixation reliability while keeping the overall system manageable through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The suture construct incorporates dynamic elements including adjustable loops that can be cinched to different sizes, tensioning members that can be selectively tightened, and locking members that transition from adjustable to fixed states. This dynamic capability allows the surgeon to optimize fixation during the procedure and maintain stable tension post-operatively
2Ease of operation
If adjustable loops are used to engage soft tissue, then tension control is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member is designed to lock the adjustable loop in place through self-engagement mechanisms such as friction locks, cam locks, or interlocking geometries. Once the surgeon adjusts the loop to the desired tension, the locking member automatically secures it without requiring additional tools or complex procedures, maintaining ease of operation while enabling precise tension control
Solution Approach 2:
The locking member acts as an intermediary between the adjustable loop and the tensioning member. It transfers and maintains the tension force from the tensioning member to the loop, which then applies controlled force to the tissue. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the overall system by decoupling the adjustment function from the tension maintenance function
3Strength
If multiple anchors are used to secure the suture construct, then fixation strength is improved, but the surgical procedure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The suture construct is designed with universal attachment capabilities that can accommodate multiple anchor types and configurations. The same basic construct with its adjustable loops and tensioning members can be adapted to work with different anchor designs, allowing the surgeon to optimize fixation strength for specific anatomical locations without requiring entirely different devices, thus managing complexity while maintaining versatility
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical method can include passing at least two adjustable loops of a flexible construct through at least the first tissue to extend from an outer surface of the first tissue opposite a tissue engaging surface facing the second tissue, and attaching the two adjustable loops to a first selected area of the second tissue. The method can further include positioning an elongated locking member within the two adjustable loops such that the locking member extends between the two adjustable loops adjacent the outer surface, engaging the locking member with the outer surface by drawing the two adjustable loops towards the outer surface, and compressing the first tissue between the locking member and the second tissue by tensioning the two adjustable loops. Related tissue fixation devices are also provided.