Braided Implantable Textile Anchor with Integral Filaments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing textile anchors for surgical fixation are complex to fabricate and lack secure fixation due to design flaws such as limited handling ends and risk of actuation strand displacement.

Innovation Solution

A collapsible textile anchor with a braided member featuring bifurcating and converging portions that form eyelets, allowing for simplified fabrication and secure fixation through integral filaments knotted to the eyelets, preventing displacement during use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual loop creation is used to form openings in the anchor, then the anchor can be securely fixed, but the fabrication process becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure fixationVSAvoidfabrication process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The braided structure is pre-formed with bifurcating and converging portions that automatically define eyelets during the braiding process itself, eliminating the need for subsequent manual loop creation. The eyelets are created as an inherent feature of the braiding pattern rather than as a separate post-processing step.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If only one end is available for handling in the anchor design, then the structure is simplified, but it becomes difficult to securely fix the anchor

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestructureVSAvoidsecure fixation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The braided structure is divided into multiple segments with bifurcating portions that create multiple eyelets along the length of the anchor. Each eyelet can independently engage with a filament end, providing multiple handling points and securing locations rather than relying on a single end.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If the actuating strand is put through the mesh without attachment, then the fabrication is simplified, but the strand may be displaced so that the anchor cannot be securely fixed

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefabricationVSAvoidsecure fixation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The filaments are made integral with the braided structure by incorporating them into the braiding process itself. The filaments are woven together with the braided strands during manufacturing, creating a unified structure where the filaments cannot be displaced, while still allowing the actuating strand to pass through the defined eyelets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11154292B2Implantable textile anchor

Publication Date: 2021.10.26 MEISTER & CO AG HASLE RUEGSAU

AI summary

The implantable textile anchor includes a collapsible member including a first end, a second end and a plurality of eyelets arranged between the first end and the second end, and at least one filament. The collapsible member is braided to form bifurcating and converging portions, which define the eyelets. The at least one filament is guided through eyelets of the collapsible member so that by pulling on the at least one filament the collapsible member collapses to a form with an increased lateral extension. The at least one filament is knotted to an eyelet and/or the at least one filament and at least a second filament are made integral with the collapsible member.