Surgical Anchor Delivery System with Multi-Anchor Shaft

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical anchor delivery systems are inefficient and costly due to the need for multiple disposable delivery devices when two or more anchors are required, with the bulk of the cost attributed to the delivery device rather than the anchors themselves.

Innovation Solution

A surgical anchor delivery system featuring a single delivery device with an elongate shaft and handle, capable of advancing multiple surgical anchors distally along the shaft, allowing for the deployment of two, three, four, or more anchors in series, with features such as lumens for slidably mounting anchors and a mechanism to prevent rotation and snagging of sutures, enabling efficient and cost-effective deployment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple single-use disposable delivery devices are used to deploy two or more anchors, then each anchor can be delivered, but the cost and procedural efficiency deteriorate due to the bulk of costs being attributable to the disposable delivery devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanchor delivery capabilityVSAvoidwaste of disposable delivery devices
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple single-use delivery devices into a single reusable delivery device that can deliver multiple anchors. The delivery device includes a shaft with a lumen that can accommodate multiple anchors in series, allowing them to be delivered through one device rather than requiring separate devices for each anchor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The delivery device is designed with multi-functionality to deliver multiple anchors of different types (fenestrated or non-fenestrated, various materials like bioresorbable or non-bioresorbable) through a single device. The device can be reused across multiple procedures, serving universal purposes rather than being single-use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple single-use disposable delivery devices are used, then each anchor can be delivered, but procedural efficiency deteriorates due to the need to use several delivery devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanchor delivery capabilityVSAvoidprocedural efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple single-use delivery devices into a single reusable delivery device that can deliver multiple anchors. The delivery device includes a shaft with a lumen that can accommodate multiple anchors in series, allowing them to be delivered through one device rather than requiring separate devices for each anchor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The multiple anchors are pre-loaded into the delivery device in series before the surgical procedure. This preliminary loading eliminates the need to prepare and attach separate delivery devices during the procedure, improving procedural efficiency by having all anchors ready for immediate deployment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If anchors are loaded with suture, then the anchor can be secured to tissue, but the suture may snag on the delivery device during deployment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetissue securing capabilityVSAvoidsmooth anchor deployment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the suture from the anchor body and routes it externally through the delivery device. The suture is attached to the anchor and passes through the delivery device shaft lumen or along the exterior of the shaft, then exits at the handle region. This separation prevents the suture from snagging on the delivery device during anchor deployment while still allowing the anchor to be securely attached to tissue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2717784B1Surgical anchor delivery system
Publication Date: 2020.08.05 SMITH & NEPHEW INC
  • EP2717784B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2717784B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2717784B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a surgical anchor delivery system (10) including a delivery device (11) having a shaft (14) and a handle (13), an advancer (15) for advancing a surgical anchor (12) distally along the shaft (14); and a plurality of surgical anchors (12) loaded upon the shaft (14).