Cannulated Multi-Component Anchor for Knotless Soft-Tissue Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical methods for reattaching soft tissue to bone, such as sutures and knotless suture anchor systems, are tedious, time-consuming, and generate significant waste due to disposable components, while requiring multiple knots that can deform or get cut during surgery.
Innovation Solution
A multi-component anchor system comprising a distal and cannulated proximal anchor body, where the distal anchor is securely engaged with a driver and rotated to deploy the cannulated proximal anchor into the bone, allowing for knotless fixation and reusability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional suture anchors with knots are used for soft tissue reattachment, then the tissue can be secured to bone, but the surgical procedure becomes tedious and time-consuming due to manual knot tying
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the knot-tying step from the surgical procedure by using a knotless suture anchor system. The suture is directly integrated into the anchor mechanism, allowing tissue attachment without requiring separate knot formation and insertion steps, thereby significantly reducing surgical time while maintaining reliable fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The suture anchor system is designed to be self-contained and self-securing. The anchor mechanism automatically secures the suture in place through its internal structure (such as a friction fit or locking mechanism) without requiring external knot tying by the surgeon, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the time-consuming manual knotting process.
2Reliability
If manual knot tying is performed during surgery, then suture can be secured, but the knots tend to deform or collapse when forced into position
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the knot component entirely from the system. Instead of relying on manually tied knots that can deform or collapse, the suture is secured through the anchor's built-in mechanical retention features, eliminating the source of instability and deformation problems associated with traditional knots.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the manual knot-tying mechanical system with a pre-engineered mechanical retention system integrated into the anchor. This substitution provides more consistent and reliable suture retention by using precision-manufactured retention features rather than variable hand-tied knots.
3Reliability
If traditional suture anchors are used, then tissue can be attached to bone, but the suture knots are exposed to abrasion or cutting by sharp or rough areas in the bone canal
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the vulnerable knot element from the system. By eliminating knots entirely and using a knotless anchor design where the suture is retained internally or through friction fit, the suture material is protected from exposure to sharp or rough bone surfaces that would cause abrasion or cutting.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor body serves as an intermediary protective element between the suture and the bone canal walls. The suture passes through or is retained by the anchor without direct contact with potentially harmful bone surfaces, and the anchor's smooth external surface protects the suture from abrasion and cutting forces.
4Loss of time
If knotless suture anchor systems are developed to eliminate knots, then surgical time is reduced and waste is minimized, but the systems become complex, difficult to operate, and fragile
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the anchor system into distinct functional components: the anchor body with integrated retention features, the suture material, and the deployment mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for simplicity and reliability, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the knotless advantage of reduced surgical time.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor design integrates multiple functions into a single component: anchoring to bone, retaining the suture, and facilitating deployment. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate parts needed in the system, simplifying the overall design and making it easier to operate while maintaining the efficiency benefits of a knotless system.
5Reliability
If disposable components are used in suture anchor systems, then sterility is ensured, but significant medical waste is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies the discarding and recovering principle by making the anchor system reusable rather than disposable. The anchor and deployment tool can be sterilized and reused across multiple surgical procedures, significantly reducing medical waste generation while maintaining sterility assurance through proper sterilization protocols between uses.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the key parameter of component lifecycle from single-use (disposable) to multi-use (reusable). This parameter change transforms the system from generating significant medical waste to being environmentally sustainable, while sterility is maintained through controlled sterilization processes applied to the reusable components between surgeries.
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 system provides efficient, durable, and waste-reducing knotless fixation of soft tissue to bone, minimizing surgical time and reducing waste by allowing reuse of components.
Implementation Method 1
a distal anchor body at a distal end of a surgical driver (which securely engages and locks with driver using a threaded or captured engagement system)
Implementation Method 2
rotation of the surgical driver releases the distal anchor body and concurrently rotates and advances the cannulated proximal anchor into the bone opening and over a portion of the distal anchor body to lock the suture
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices and methods for knotless fixation of tissue during a surgical procedure, including a multi-piece anchor having a separate distal anchor and cannulated proximal anchor component that are used to secure one or more sutures for surgical tissue repair without requiring suture knots. The distal body can include a closed aperture to allow insertion and/or free sliding of one or more suture strands. The multi-piece anchor is secured in a hole formed in bone by placing the distal anchor body in the hole and then advancing the proximal anchor component, such as a cannulated interference screw body, over a portion of the distal anchor body.