Bioabsorbable Fixation Device for Ligament Graft Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current ligament reconstructive surgeries face challenges such as poor donor graft quality, poor patient bone quality, graft damage from fixation devices, inhibition of graft regrowth, and poor tendon interface, which hinder effective repair and healing of ligaments and tendons.
Innovation Solution
A connective tissue augmentation and fixation device is designed to support and stabilize grafts, ligaments, and tendons during implantation, featuring bioabsorbable materials and customizable tails for secure attachment to bones, allowing for enhanced initial healing and integration, and eventual dissolution to promote natural muscle and tendon growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If fixation devices are used to stabilize grafts during ligament reconstruction, then initial stability and healing are improved, but graft damage occurs and regrowth is inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation device is divided into multiple segments including a central body and multiple tails that can be independently configured. This segmentation allows the device to provide stability through distributed anchoring while reducing stress concentration on the graft, thereby preventing graft damage during the healing process
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes bioabsorbable materials with controlled degradation parameters. The material properties are designed to provide initial mechanical strength and stability, then gradually degrade over time as the graft heals and strengthens, eliminating the need for long-term fixation that would inhibit regrowth
2Object-generated harmful factors
If bioabsorbable materials are used for the fixation device, then long-term foreign material presence is eliminated, but device strength and durability during healing are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation device employs composite material construction combining bioabsorbable polymers with enhanced mechanical properties. This allows the device to achieve sufficient strength and durability during the critical healing period while maintaining the ability to degrade completely, eliminating long-term foreign material presence
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed with dynamic mechanical properties that change over time. Initially, the material provides high strength to stabilize the graft, then gradually transitions to lower strength as it degrades, matching the healing timeline of the tissue and providing appropriate mechanical support throughout the recovery process
3Reliability
If multiple tails are added to the device for secure bone attachment, then fixation reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple tails of the device serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide secure anchoring to bone, distribute mechanical loads, and can be configured in various patterns to accommodate different anatomical sites. This multi-functionality achieves high fixation reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
System and techniques for connective tissue augmentation and fixation device are described herein. The connective tissue augmentation and fixation device can include a central body, a first side tail, and a second side tail. The central body can be configured to at least partially surround a graft. The central body can extend longitudinally between a first end and a second end. The first side tail can extend from the first end of the central body. The first side tail can be configured to attach to a first bone of a patient. The second side tail can extend from the second end of the central body. The second side tail can be configured to attach to a second bone of the patient.