Closed Knotless Suture Construct for Tissue Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical methods for repairing soft tissue tears, such as meniscal tissue, are time-consuming and prone to failure due to the need for manually tying knots, which creates a potential weak point in the repair.
Innovation Solution
A closed knotless suture construct comprising a finger trap region, a fixed loop, and a tucked tail formed from a single continuous suture, allowing for secure tissue connection without the need for knots, using a locking point and sliding loops to maintain tension and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual knot-tying is used to secure suture material through tissue, then the suture can be tied to create a secure connection, but the procedure becomes time-consuming and creates potential failure points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the knot-tying step from the surgical procedure by using a pre-formed loop construct that secures tissue through a locking mechanism. The loop is inserted through tissue and locked in place without requiring the surgeon to tie knots, thereby removing the time-consuming knot-tying operation while maintaining secure tissue attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The loop construct is pre-formed with a locking point before surgery. The locking point is prepared in advance as an integrated feature of the loop, allowing for rapid deployment during surgery without requiring on-site knot-tying. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming knot-tying operations while ensuring reliable tissue repair.
2Reliability
If manual knot-tying is performed, then secure tissue connection can be achieved, but the complexity of the surgical task increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex knot-tying operation from the surgical procedure by using a pre-formed loop with an integrated locking mechanism. The loop is simply inserted through tissue and locked in place, eliminating the need for the surgeon to perform complex knot-tying maneuvers while maintaining secure tissue connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The loop construct is designed to be self-locking through its integrated locking point mechanism. Once the loop is inserted through the tissue, the locking point automatically secures it in place without requiring the surgeon to perform additional knot-tying operations. This self-service design simplifies the surgical operation while ensuring reliable tissue attachment.
3Strength
If multiple knots are tied to secure suture material, then the suture can be firmly anchored, but the risk of failure increases due to multiple potential weak points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates multiple knots and their associated failure risks by using a single pre-formed loop construct with an integrated locking mechanism. The loop is inserted through tissue and locked in place as a single unified structure, removing the multiple discrete knot-tying steps that create multiple potential failure points while maintaining firm tissue anchoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of multiple knots into a single integrated loop construct with a locking point. Instead of using separate knots to secure the suture, the locking point combines the anchoring and securing functions into one unified mechanism, thereby maintaining strength while eliminating the multiple failure points associated with multiple discrete knots.
Data Source
AI summary
Closed Suture Anchor construct and/or assembly having one or more anchoring constructs enclosed by a continuous (i.e., closed) loop of a suture or suture, such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) are disclosed herein. Preferred assemblies are constructed such that the anchoring construct cannot be detached from the continuous loop without breaking or opening the continuous or closed loop of the closed suture anchor construct.