Adjustable Suture Construct for Syndesmotic Bone Spacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems fail to maintain bones in anatomically correct positions during syndesmosis repair, leading to incomplete or improper reconnection of connective tissue and potential need for additional surgeries.
Innovation Solution
A flexible construct with adjustable loops and anchoring elements is used to maintain bones in a selected spacing, allowing for precise positioning and reattachment of soft tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current fixation systems are used to maintain bones during syndesmosis repair, then some connective tissue reconnection is achieved, but proper anatomical positioning and complete tissue reattachment are not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The suture construct incorporates an adjustable loop that allows dynamic adjustment of the spacing between the first and second bones. The loop can be tightened or loosened to achieve precise anatomical positioning of the bones relative to each other, enabling the surgeon to optimize bone spacing for proper connective tissue reattachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fixed parameter approach to a variable parameter approach by providing an adjustable loop that can be modified during surgery. The loop length can be adjusted to change the spacing between bones, allowing optimization of the anatomical positioning parameter for successful tissue reconnection.
2Stability of the object's composition
If fixed position fixation is used, then bone stability is achieved, but flexibility for tissue reattachment optimization is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The suture construct transitions from a fixed system to a dynamic system with an adjustable loop. This allows the construct to maintain bone stability while providing the flexibility to adjust the spacing between bones, enabling adaptation to the specific anatomical requirements for successful tissue reattachment.
3Manufacturing precision
If adjustable loop construct is used, then precise bone positioning is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suture construct is segmented into distinct functional components: anchoring elements for bone attachment, a flexible strand for tension, and an adjustable loop for spacing control. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall system manageability despite the increased precision capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes forming a bone tunnel through a first bone and a second bone and inserting a flexible construct through the bone tunnel. The flexible construct includes a first anchoring element and a second anchoring element coupled by at least one flexible strand defining an adjustable loop. The at least one flexible strand includes a first end extending from the first anchoring element in an opposite direction from the adjustable loop. A length of the adjustable loop is adjusted to position the first bone and the second bone in a selected spacing. The first end of the at least one flexible strand is coupled to a tissue section using a third anchoring element.