Knotless Arthroscopic Tissue Fixation Sleeve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for attaching soft tissue to bone in surgical procedures are cumbersome and time-consuming, particularly due to the need for repeated knot-tying during arthroscopic procedures, which complicates the secure fixation of multiple suture anchors.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a flexible sleeve and strand system where the sleeve is passed through bone anchors, tensioned, and then moved to secure the sleeve without tying, forming a knotless attachment by deforming into a configuration that prevents passage back through the anchor, allowing for multiple anchors to be secured with a single slipknot.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional knot-tying methods are used to attach soft tissue to bone, then secure fixation is achieved, but the surgical procedure becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the knot-tying step from the fixation process by using a pre-formed loop structure that automatically secures the strand to the bone anchor when tension is applied, eliminating the need for manual knot-tying while maintaining fixation security
Solution Approach 2:
The loop structure is pre-formed before insertion, with the strand ends already configured in a loop that will automatically secure upon tensioning. This preliminary configuration eliminates the need for time-consuming knot-tying during the surgical procedure
2Reliability
If repeated knot-tying is performed for multiple bone anchors, then secure attachment is achieved, but device complexity and procedural difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple bone anchors are secured using a single continuous strand with a unified loop structure, merging multiple fixation points into one continuous attachment process. This eliminates the need for separate knot-tying operations for each anchor, reducing procedural complexity while maintaining attachment security
Solution Approach 2:
The loop structure serves multiple functions: it secures the strand to each bone anchor, maintains tension across all anchors, and provides a universal attachment mechanism that works for any number of anchors in the row, simplifying the overall procedure
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
This method simplifies the surgical process by eliminating the need for individual knot-tying, providing a secure and efficient attachment of soft tissue to bone with increased pull-out strength compared to traditional knot-tying methods, while reducing procedural time.
Implementation Method 1
deforming each sleeve to a second configuration
Implementation Method 2
tensioning the strand
Data Source
AI summary
A method for securing a strand to a fixation member for arthroscopic fixation, wherein the fixation member includes a channel on an exterior surface and an aperture therethrough. The method includes passing a strand having first and second ends through a flexible sleeve, passing the sleeve through the aperture of the fixation member in a first direction, tensioning the strand, and pulling the sleeve in a second direction different than the first direction to secure the sleeve to the fixation member without tying the strand on the fixation member.