Bone Anchor Delivery Assembly for Cortical Bone Penetration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical devices face difficulties in forming holes in bones due to cortical elasticity, making it challenging to insert anchor members or implants, such as staples, and subsequent removal of tools is cumbersome.

Innovation Solution

A bone punch and anchor member delivery system with a piercing tip and anchor member configured to penetrate bone, featuring a sharpened distal end and an enlarged region, allowing for efficient hole formation and anchor deployment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional tools are used to form holes in bone, then hole formation is attempted, but cortical elasticity makes the process difficult and tool removal cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehole formation easeVSAvoidtool removal ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The piercing tip and anchor member are combined into a single integrated delivery system. The piercing tip forms the bone hole and simultaneously guides the anchor member into place, eliminating the need for separate hole formation and anchor insertion steps, and simplifying tool removal as a single unit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The piercing tip is pre-configured with a sharpened distal end and enlarged region to facilitate easy bone penetration before the actual procedure. The anchor member is pre-loaded onto the piercing tip, ready for immediate deployment once the hole is formed, streamlining the entire process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If conventional anchor insertion methods are used, then anchor members can be inserted into bone holes, but the process is time-consuming and complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanchor insertion reliabilityVSAvoidinsertion speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The piercing tip and anchor member form an integrated assembly where the piercing tip creates the hole and immediately guides the anchor member into position. This combined approach ensures reliable anchor placement while significantly reducing the time required compared to separate hole formation and insertion steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The piercing tip acts as an intermediary tool that facilitates both hole formation and anchor guidance. Its enlarged region provides a transition zone that ensures the anchor member is properly positioned during insertion, maintaining reliability while accelerating the process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12496062B2Bone anchor delivery system

Publication Date: 2025.12.16 SMITH & NEPHEW INC

AI summary

A delivery system for delivering an anchor member to a bone of a patient may include a bone punch including an elongate shaft, a head at a proximal end of the elongate shaft, and a piercing tip at a distal end of the elongate shaft. The piercing tip may be configured to be driven into the bone. An anchor member may be disposed over at least a portion of the piercing tip with the piercing tip extending distal of the anchor member. The anchor member may be configured to penetrate the bone of the patient in cooperation with the piercing tip.