Button Inserter Fulcrum Mechanism for Precise Bone Cortex Deployment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The use of pull-through sutures and needles for deploying buttons on bone surfaces can cause soft-tissue entrapment and improper positioning due to advancement beyond the necessary deployment point, especially in 'inside-out' techniques.

Innovation Solution

A button inserter with a shaft, inner rod, and handle switch mechanism that allows for the button to be manually inserted and flipped into position using a fulcrum and off-axis tensile force, eliminating the need for pull-through sutures and needles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pull-through sutures and needles are used to advance the suture button through the bone tunnel, then the button can be deployed onto the bone cortex, but soft-tissue may become trapped underneath the button causing improper positioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebutton positioning accuracyVSAvoidsoft-tissue entrapment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional inside-out technique by implementing an outside-in approach. The button is advanced through the bone tunnel from the external surface rather than being pulled through from the internal surface. This inversion eliminates the need for pull-through sutures and needles that cause soft-tissue entrapment, while ensuring the button is positioned accurately on the bone cortex without trapping soft-tissue underneath it.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If pull-through sutures and needles are used to deploy the button, then the button can be advanced through the bone tunnel, but the button may be advanced farther than necessary resulting in proud positioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebutton deployment capabilityVSAvoidbutton positioning precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical pull-through suture and needle system with a dedicated button inserter device. This new mechanical system provides controlled advancement of the button through the bone tunnel, with features such as a button receiving chamber and controlled release mechanism that prevent over-advancement. The inserter device ensures the button is advanced only to the necessary extent for proper deployment, eliminating the proud positioning problem associated with pull-through techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If the button is advanced farther than necessary to deploy and flip the button, then the button can be deployed onto the bone cortex, but soft-tissue becomes trapped causing the button to be positioned proud on the bone surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebutton deployment reliabilityVSAvoidbutton positioning precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a button inserter device as an intermediary between the surgeon and the button deployment process. This intermediary device includes a button receiving chamber that holds the button in a controlled manner, and a mechanism that releases the button at the precise moment needed for deployment. The inserter acts as a mediator that prevents both under-deployment and over-advancement, ensuring the button is positioned correctly on the bone cortex without trapping soft-tissue, thereby achieving reliable and precise deployment simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enables precise and efficient deployment of buttons on bone surfaces without soft-tissue entrapment, ensuring proper positioning and fixation, suitable for bone-to-bone and soft-tissue-to-bone fixation procedures.

Implementation Method 1

The resilient member moves the slide away from a distal end of the handle to retract the inner rod when the handle switch is released

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

A button inserter with a shaft, inner rod, and handle switch mechanism that allows for the button to be manually inserted and flipped into position using a fulcrum and off-axis tensile force

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLever: Lever

Implementation Method 3

The suture strand imparts an off-axis tensile force between the oblong button and the second button

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTension: Tension

Data Source

PatentUS20260069264A1Instrument for Manual Insertion of a Button

Publication Date: 2026.03.12 ARTHREX INC

AI summary

A button inserter includes a shaft having a fulcrum that extends beyond a distal tip of the shaft. An inner rod is within the shaft and has a button mating surface that extends from a distal tip of the inner rod. A handle includes a handle switch that translates the inner rod between an extended position where the button mating surface of the inner rod extends beyond the distal tip of the shaft and a retracted position where the button mating surface of the inner rod is located completely within the shaft.