Bone-Tendon-Bone Graft with Omega-Shaped Cavities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bone-tendon-bone grafts face challenges in securely attaching slippery tendons to bone blocks, leading to slippage and loss of tension, especially during anterior cruciate ligament repairs, which results in inadequate healing and stability.
Innovation Solution
The use of intermediate bone blocks with textured surfaces featuring one to ten cavities, preferably omega-shaped channels, that capture and hold tendons without cutting, providing enhanced gripping and stability during surgical procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional bone-tendon-bone grafts are used with smooth bone block surfaces, then the surgical procedure is simpler, but the tendon slips and loses tension during anterior cruciate ligament repairs
Solution Approach 1:
The bone block surface is modified with localized cavities and channels only in the regions where tendon contact occurs, while the rest of the bone block maintains its original smooth structure. This localized modification provides enhanced tendon gripping capability without unnecessarily complicating the entire bone block design.
Solution Approach 2:
The tendon engagement surface is segmented into multiple cavities and channels, including omega-shaped channels, that work together to capture and hold the tendon. This segmentation distributes the gripping function across multiple structural elements, improving reliability while keeping each individual feature relatively simple.
2Reliability
If the bone block surface is made smoother to reduce friction, then the tendon slips less, but the gripping capability and stability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cavities and channels on the bone block surface are designed with asymmetric geometries, particularly the omega-shaped channels with their distinctive curved profiles. This asymmetry creates directional gripping forces that prevent tendon slippage in the direction of pull while maintaining biological compatibility and reducing excessive friction.
Solution Approach 2:
The bone block surface transitions from a two-dimensional flat interface to a three-dimensional structure with cavities and channels of varying depths and orientations. This dimensional change provides mechanical interlocking with the tendon, significantly improving gripping force and stability without requiring high friction coefficients.
3Strength
If the bone block is designed with multiple cavities and channels to enhance tendon capture, then the tensile strength increases, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cavities and channels are designed with optimized parameters including size, shape, depth, and spacing that can be achieved through standard machining operations. The omega-shaped channels, for example, use conventional milling or routing techniques with controlled parameters to create the desired geometry without requiring complex or specialized manufacturing processes.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a bone-tendon-bone graft and components. Embodiments of the present invention comprise an intermediate bone block that is used to adjustably secure soft tissue (e.g., tendon) in a patient. Embodiments of intermediate bone blocks of the present invention are used singly or in combination with one or more bone blocks to form a bone block assembly for securing soft tissue. The present invention further relates to an assembled bone-tendon-bone graft for implantation in humans comprising the intermediate bone block and a length of soft tissue. A bone-tendon-bone graft comprises a length of soft tissue extending from a first assembled bone block to a second bone block and then doubles back to said first assembled bone block. Depending upon the embodiment, the second bone block fixedly or slideably attaches to the length of soft tissue and facilitates it doubling back to the first assembled bone block.