Biologic Tube with Weaved Suture for Ligament Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ligament repair techniques lack reinforcement and protection for clot formation and healing, leading to a high failure rate in anterior cruciate ligament repairs and other ligament repairs.
Innovation Solution
A biologic tube reinforced with a weaved suture, incorporating collagen or dermal allograft tissue and embedded bone marrow aspirate, provides a conduit for healing and reinforcement, using a bioabsorbable ring to keep the tube open and a washer with slits for suture passage, enhancing the repair site's stability and protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current repair techniques are used without reinforcement, then the procedure is simpler, but the repair fails at a high rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple materials and components into a composite repair system: a biologic scaffold tube (collagen or dermal allograft) reinforced with suture, containing bone marrow aspirate, accompanied by a washer and ring. This composite structure provides both reinforcement and biological stimulation, resolving the contradiction by integrating multiple functions into a unified device that improves repair success rate while managing complexity through coordinated component design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges several functions into a single integrated device: the scaffold tube provides structural reinforcement, contains biologics for healing stimulation, and serves as a protective conduit. The washer and ring are integrated to maintain tube configuration and enable secure placement. This consolidation resolves the technical contradiction by combining multiple necessary functions into one device that simultaneously addresses reinforcement and biological stimulation needs.
2Reliability
If no conduit is provided to protect clot formation, then the device is simpler, but healing at the repair site is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible biologic scaffold tube made of collagen or dermal allograft that acts as a protective conduit. This flexible shell encloses the repair site, protecting clot formation and providing a controlled environment for healing. The flexibility of the biologic material allows it to conform to the repair site while maintaining protective function, resolving the contradiction between protection and structural simplicity.
3Strength
If reinforcement is added to the repair, then the repair strength increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the reinforcement function into distinct components: a scaffold tube for structural support, a washer for securing, and a ring for maintaining configuration. Each component performs a specific reinforcement function, allowing the overall system to achieve high repair site strength while managing complexity through modular design. The segmentation enables independent optimization of each component's reinforcement contribution.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device includes a scaffold having at least two sides, a washer; and at least one suture having a medial portion passed through the washer, and two portions extending from the medial portion each weaved to a respective one of the two sides of the scaffold. The scaffold may include collagen and/or dermal allograft tissue. The scaffold may be shaped as a tube. Bone marrow aspirate may be embedded into an interior side of the tube. The two portions of the suture extending from the medial portion may be weaved to respective two diametrically opposed sides of the tube. A ring may be inserted into the tube at a tissue attachment side of the tube to keep the tube open. The ring may be formed of a bioabsorbable material. The scaffold may be a rectangular sheet.