Bone Anchor Suture Loop Prevents Unloading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current orthopedic procedures face challenges in managing and organizing suture lines during bone anchor implantation, leading to increased risks of accidental unloading and reduced repair strength due to single-loaded configurations and visibility issues in arthroscopic settings.

Innovation Solution

The use of a bone anchor with a suture line formed in a continuous loop, allowing for double-loaded configurations with differentiated sections to prevent unloading and enhance visibility and handling, enabling secure tissue-to-bone or bone-to-bone attachments with improved strength and reduced complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a typical bone anchor and suture line assembly is used, then the tissue can be attached to bone, but it becomes difficult for the surgeon to manage, track, and organize the separate suture line portions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of managing suture linesVSAvoidcomplexity of suture line configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The suture line is divided into distinct segments with differentiable features (e.g., different colors, textures, or patterns) that allow the surgeon to easily identify and track each portion. This segmentation maintains organizational ease while managing the inherent complexity through visual differentiation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary tracking mechanism (such as colored markers, textured sections, or patterned areas on the suture line) that serves as a mediator between the complex suture configuration and the surgeon's ability to manage it. This intermediary element simplifies the interaction without reducing the functional complexity of the assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a typical suture line configuration is used, then the tissue can be secured, but the risk of accidental unloading increases due to incorrect manipulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverisk of accidental unloadingVSAvoidease of manipulating suture lines

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The suture line is pre-configured with differentiable sections and tracking features that prevent incorrect manipulation before it can cause unloading. The visual or tactile cues guide the surgeon's actions in advance, creating a preliminary protective mechanism against accidental unloading while maintaining ease of proper manipulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The differentiable features on the suture line provide continuous feedback to the surgeon during manipulation, allowing real-time verification of correct handling. This feedback mechanism increases reliability by preventing incorrect actions while preserving ease of operation through intuitive guidance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the suture line is pulled too far or manipulated incorrectly, then unloading occurs rendering the anchor useless, but this increases surgery time and cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanchor usabilityVSAvoidsurgery time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The suture line is pre-loaded onto the bone anchor with differentiable sections that indicate proper positioning and tension. This preliminary configuration reduces the likelihood of unloading during surgery, thereby preventing anchor failure and avoiding the time loss associated with replacing failed anchors or correcting mistakes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates protective features in the suture line configuration (such as redundant stitching, differentiable sections for error detection, or tension-indicating elements) that cushion against the harmful effects of incorrect manipulation before they can cause anchor unloading and subsequent time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Strength

If a single-loaded suture configuration is used, then the anchor can be implanted, but the repair strength is limited and failure risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverepair strengthVSAvoidsuture line configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple suture strands into a unified multi-loaded configuration where several strands pass through the anchor eyelet simultaneously. This merging of multiple load-bearing elements increases repair strength while the differentiable features help manage the increased complexity by providing clear identification of each strand's function and routing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10022119B2Devices and methods for securing tissue to bone

Publication Date: 2018.07.17 WIDMER BENJAMIN

AI summary

An orthopedic ligation assembly includes a bone anchor having an eyelet and a suture line formed in a continuous loop and loaded onto the bone anchor, the suture line passing through the eyelet of the bone anchor to form a first looped portion on a first side of the bone anchor and a second looped portion on a second side of the bone anchor. The suture line can be pre-loaded onto the bone anchor prior to implantation of the bone anchor in a configuration that prevents unloading of the suture line from the anchor. The suture line can include a plurality of differentiable sections providing a surgeon with the ability to differentiate separate portions of the suture line during an orthopedic procedure.