Braided Soft Tissue Anchor for Small-Hole Bone Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orthopedic surgery procedures face challenges with anchoring devices that require large bone holes, risk of device loosening, potential arthritis, MRI interference, and complex suture management, particularly in endoscopic surgeries.
Innovation Solution
A soft, flexible anchoring implant made of braided material, preloaded into a delivery mechanism, which expands radially upon deployment to anchor in bone or soft tissue, allowing for secure tissue attachment with minimal invasiveness and simplified suture management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional anchoring devices (polymers, metal, biodegradable compounds) are used, then tissue fixation is achieved, but large bone holes are required and device loosening risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anchoring device transitions from a compressed delivery state to an expanded deployed state. The braid structure dynamically changes configuration upon suture tensioning, expanding radially to engage bone tissue and provide secure fixation without requiring large pre-drilled holes
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes its physical parameters from a compact, low-profile configuration during delivery to an expanded, high-profile configuration during deployment. The braid structure's radial expansion increases its engagement surface area with bone, providing strong fixation through parameter transformation
2Strength
If traditional hard anchoring devices are used, then initial fixation strength is achieved, but device loosening can occur leading to arthritis risk
Solution Approach 1:
The anchoring device uses a flexible braid structure that can deform and adapt to bone tissue. This flexibility allows the device to conform to anatomical variations and resist loosening, preventing the development of arthritis while maintaining reliable long-term fixation
Solution Approach 2:
The device combines suture material with braided structure to create a composite anchoring system. This composite construction provides both the flexibility needed to prevent loosening and the strength required for secure initial fixation, ensuring long-term reliability
3Strength
If metal anchoring devices are used, then strong fixation is achieved, but MRI scatter occurs reducing imaging accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses non-metallic, biodegradable materials that do not interfere with MRI imaging. While these materials may have different mechanical properties than metal, they provide sufficient fixation strength for the application and eliminate MRI scatter interference, allowing accurate postoperative imaging
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from metallic to non-metallic material composition, fundamentally changing its electromagnetic properties. This parameter change eliminates MRI interference while maintaining adequate mechanical fixation strength through the braid structure's mechanical engagement with bone tissue
4Reliability
If multiple sutures are used for tissue repair, then secure anchoring is achieved, but procedure time increases and knot-tying complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sutures are merged into a single integrated braided structure. The braid incorporates multiple strand ends that can be simultaneously tensioned and secured, eliminating the need for separate knot-tying operations and reducing procedure time while maintaining secure anchoring
Solution Approach 2:
The braided structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the anchoring mechanism, incorporates the suture material, and enables simplified tensioning. This multi-functionality eliminates separate knot-tying steps and reduces overall procedure complexity and time
5Reliability
If complex suture management is used, then tissue repair security is achieved, but surgical skill requirement increases and predictability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The braided structure is self-configuring and self-securing. The multiple strand ends are inherently integrated into the braid, allowing them to be simultaneously tensioned and secured without complex external manipulation. This self-service特性 simplifies the surgical procedure while maintaining tissue repair security
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The anchoring implant provides secure tissue fixation with reduced invasiveness, avoids joint complications, allows for MRI compatibility, and simplifies knot-tying, enhancing surgical predictability and reducing procedure time.
Implementation Method 1
When the suture ends are tensioned with some counter traction against the braided material structure, the braided material structure compresses axially and expands radially
Data Source
AI summary
A tissue repair assembly for attachment of tissue to bone or tissue to tissue having a soft anchoring implant 100 with a length of suture 120 there through for tensioning the implant and facilitating attachment of other tissue. The implant 100 is a soft, flexible, three-dimensional structure that has a resident volume 200. An inserter tube 310 facilitates the placement of the implant 100 into bone or adjacent soft tissue where it may be deployed. Upon deployment, the soft anchoring implant 100 shortens axially and expands radially, achieving a larger diameter than the hole through which it was placed, thus resisting pull out.