Cannulated Guide With Angled Distal Portion For Arthroscopic Anchor Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices face challenges in accurately placing suture anchors during arthroscopic surgical procedures due to limited access and visibility, and inability to withstand forces required for new techniques, especially in joints like the shoulder, hip, ankle, knee, and foot.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a cannulated guide with an angled distal portion, an obturator with flexible and tapered or sharp ends, a drill with flexible and helical threads, and an anchor delivery tool with a flexible shaft and suture retaining features, designed to facilitate precise placement and reduce tissue damage and slippage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional delivery devices are used for suture anchor placement, then the procedure can be performed with standard equipment, but accurate placement is difficult due to limited access and visibility in arthroscopic procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery device employs a nested structure where the suture anchor is contained within the anchor delivery tool, which in turn is inserted through the cannulated guide. This nested configuration allows the entire system to pass through the limited arthroscopic access portal while maintaining the capability for precise anchor placement at the target bone site.
Solution Approach 2:
The cannulated guide serves as an intermediary device that facilitates accurate anchor placement by providing a guided pathway through the limited access point. The guide with its angled distal portion acts as a mediator between the external delivery tools and the internal bone target, enabling precise trajectory control without requiring direct visual access to the surgical site.
2Strength
If current delivery devices are used, then the equipment is simple and easy to handle, but they cannot withstand the forces imposed by new surgical techniques
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery device utilizes composite construction combining rigid components (for strength and force withstanding) with flexible portions (for adaptability and passage through angled trajectories). The shaft includes both rigid sections for structural integrity and flexible portions that allow the device to bend and conform to the angled distal portion of the guide while maintaining overall strength to withstand surgical forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates dynamic flexibility through the flexible portion in the shaft, allowing the device to adapt its shape and orientation in response to surgical forces and anatomical variations. This dynamic capability enables the rigid anchoring components to withstand forces while the flexible sections accommodate movement and positioning requirements.
3Reliability
If bore holes are drilled at preferred angles for optimal repair outcomes, then surgical effectiveness is improved, but delivery devices cannot achieve the preferred anchor trajectory
Solution Approach 1:
The cannulated guide features an asymmetric design with a distal portion that is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. This asymmetric geometry is specifically configured to match the preferred anchor trajectory angles required for optimal surgical outcomes in specific joint locations, allowing the delivery device to achieve the correct angled trajectory that symmetric devices cannot provide.
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from a simple linear shaft to a three-dimensional angled structure by incorporating the distal portion at a specific angle. This dimensional change allows the device to navigate through the access portal and deliver anchors at the required angled trajectory, adding spatial complexity to achieve the preferred orientation for reliable surgical outcomes.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a system for use in tissue repair. The system includes a cannulated guide, an obturator configured for insertion through the guide, a drill configured for insertion through the guide, and an anchor delivery tool configured for insertion through the guide.