All-Suture Bone Anchor Expansion for Stronger Soft Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical procedures for addressing shoulder dislocations and Hill-Sachs defects involve large, hard anchors that can cause additional damage if dislodged, and there is a need for a smaller, softer anchor with improved fixation strength.
Innovation Solution
A micro size, all-suture anchor with a cannulated design, featuring a first flexible strand and a second flexible strand that expands to form an interference fit with bone, reducing the risk of dislodgment and enhancing fixation strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If large, hard anchors are used for fixation, then fixation strength is improved, but risk of additional damage if dislodged increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from hard to soft, and the size parameter from large to micro (diameter < 1 mm). The soft anchor material provides sufficient fixation strength through expansion and interference fit while minimizing damage risk due to its compliance and smaller size, directly resolving the contradiction between strength and harm reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The soft anchor is designed as a flexible structure that can be compressed for delivery and then expands in situ to create an interference fit with the bone tunnel. This flexible design allows the anchor to conform to the bone geometry and provides secure fixation without the rigidity that causes damage, resolving the contradiction between fixation strength and damage risk.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If micro size anchors are used, then damage risk is reduced, but fixation strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor transitions from a compressed dynamic state during delivery to an expanded static state during fixation. This dynamic transformation allows a micro-size anchor to achieve sufficient fixation strength through expansion, resolving the contradiction between small size and adequate fixation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The soft anchor is nested within a delivery device during insertion, allowing compact delivery of the micro-size anchor. After insertion, the anchor expands from its nested compressed state to a larger fixation state, enabling micro-size delivery with macro-scale fixation strength, thus resolving the contradiction between size and strength.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If soft suture material is used, then compliance and reduced damage risk are achieved, but expansion capability for interference fit is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The soft anchor utilizes composite suture material construction that combines different suture properties to achieve both softness for reduced damage risk and sufficient structural integrity for expansion and interference fit. The composite material structure resolves the contradiction between material compliance and expansion capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The soft suture anchor minimizes additional damage and provides superior fixation by expanding to create a secure interference fit with bone, improving surgical outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
The second region of the second flexible strand is configured to be pulled into the lumen of the first flexible strand to expand a diameter of the first flexible strand
Implementation Method 2
This increased diameter creates an interference fixation with bone
Data Source
AI summary
A suture/anchor and delivery device combination includes a first cannulated suture and a second stepped or staged suture that has a smaller diameter section connected to a larger diameter section. The smaller diameter of the second suture is passed through the first suture and the assemblage of sutures is further passed through a tube which acts as an inserter. To actuate the device, the larger diameter of the second suture is pulled into the lumen of the first suture, thereby expanding the first diameter of the first suture to create an interference fixation within bone.