Bone Anchor with Eyelet Pin for Suture Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current arthroscopic rotator cuff repair techniques face challenges in accurately placing anchor devices due to difficulty in locating and angling pilot holes, and managing sutures, which leads to entanglement and failure in securing tendons to the humerus effectively.

Innovation Solution

A bone anchor device with an eyelet pin and tissue fastener device that allows for secure anchoring of sutures to the bone without the need for pilot holes, facilitating 'tie/secure-as-you-go' procedures and simplifying suture management by using a bone anchor device with an eyelet pin that is securely locatable within the anchor main body, and a tissue fastener device with a hook formation for engaging soft tissue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional arthroscopic techniques with pilot holes and multiple sutures are used, then tendon reattachment can be achieved, but suture management becomes complex leading to entanglement and placement accuracy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetendon reattachment securityVSAvoidsuture management difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the suture anchoring function and the tissue securing function into a single integrated anchor device. The anchor device includes an anchor body with threads for bone engagement and a loop structure for suture attachment, eliminating the need for separate suture tying steps and reducing suture management complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The anchor device is segmented into distinct functional components: the anchor body with threads for bone anchoring, the loop structure for suture attachment, and the tissue engagement features. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while simplifying the overall suture management process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Strength

If multiple sutures are passed through tendon before tying, then secure attachment can be achieved, but suture entanglement occurs and time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidsuture passing and tying time
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The anchor device is pre-configured with a loop structure that is ready to receive and secure the suture in a single action. The suture can be passed through the loop and immediately secured without requiring multiple passing steps or subsequent tying operations, significantly reducing the time required for suture management while maintaining attachment strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If pilot holes are drilled for anchor placement, then anchor devices can be inserted, but placement accuracy is difficult to achieve arthroscopically

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanchor insertion capabilityVSAvoidanchor placement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the pilot hole drilling step from the anchor insertion process. The anchor device is designed to be inserted directly into the bone without requiring pre-drilled pilot holes, eliminating the difficulty of achieving accurate placement arthroscopically while maintaining the capability for secure anchor insertion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If conventional anchor devices with separate suture tying are used, then tendon can be secured to bone, but the process is complex and prone to suture pull-out

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetendon-to-bone securingVSAvoidanchor and suture system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the anchor body and the suture attachment mechanism into a single integrated device. The loop structure is an inherent part of the anchor body, eliminating the need for separate suture tying steps and reducing the overall system complexity while maintaining reliable tendon-to-bone securing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2081502B8A medical device for attaching tissue to bone
Publication Date: 2014.04.02 ORTHONOBLE

AI summary

The invention pertains to medical devices for anchoring a suture engaged with soft tissue to a bone, the devices including tissue fastening medical devices, bone anchor medical devices, bone anchor driving tools and impactor tools, and procedures for using the same.