Dual-Expansion Bone Anchor for Single-Step Soft Tissue Fixation

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical procedures for attaching soft tissue to bone, such as biceps tenodesis, require multiple complex steps and tools, making them difficult to perform arthroscopically.

Innovation Solution

A bone anchor with a bone engaging member featuring radial expansion capabilities, facilitated by an expander, allowing for secure attachment of soft tissue to bone through a single-step deployment mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional multi-step surgical procedures are used for attaching soft tissue to bone, then secure attachment can be achieved, but procedural complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure attachmentVSAvoidprocedural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple surgical functions (tissue capture, bone engagement, and expansion) into a single integrated bone anchor device. The expander mechanism is integrated within the bone engaging member, allowing all functions to be performed through one deployment action rather than multiple separate steps, thus reducing procedural complexity while maintaining secure attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bone anchor device performs multiple functions simultaneously: it captures soft tissue through the tissue capture feature, engages bone through the bone engaging portions with teeth, and expands radially to secure both tissue and bone. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate tools and steps for each function, simplifying the overall procedure while ensuring reliable attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If traditional multi-step surgical procedures are used for attaching soft tissue to bone, then secure attachment can be achieved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure attachmentVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple surgical functions (tissue capture, bone engagement, and expansion) into a single integrated bone anchor device. The expander mechanism is integrated within the bone engaging member, allowing all functions to be performed through one deployment action rather than multiple separate steps, thus reducing procedural complexity while maintaining secure attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bone anchor device performs multiple functions simultaneously: it captures soft tissue through the tissue capture feature, engages bone through the bone engaging portions with teeth, and expands radially to secure both tissue and bone. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate tools and steps for each function, simplifying the overall procedure while ensuring reliable attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If radial expansion is implemented in both proximal and distal portions, then attachment reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bone engaging member is divided into two distinct bone engaging portions: a proximal portion with first teeth and a distal portion with second teeth. Each portion can expand independently through the integrated expander mechanism, allowing differential engagement with bone at different locations. This segmentation enhances attachment reliability by distributing mechanical loads across multiple engagement points while the integration keeps overall device complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device incorporates an expandable structure that transitions from a compressed delivery configuration to an expanded deployed configuration. The expander mechanism allows dynamic adjustment of the bone engaging portions, enabling the device to adapt to varying bone densities and geometries. This dynamic capability improves attachment reliability while the automated expansion process minimizes the operational complexity for the surgeon.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4725452A2Dual expansion anchor with different outer teeth

Publication Date: 2026.04.15 CONMED CORP

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AI summary

A bone anchor (400), comprising: a bone engaging member (410) comprising: a first proximal bone engaging portion (418) and a second distal bone engaging portion (422); and an expansion feature configured to allow radial expansion of the first bone engaging portion (418) and the second bone engaging portion (422); an expander (700, 800) having: a first proximal expansion portion (710, 810) and a second distal expansion portion (712, 812) the expander (700, 800) being displaceable between a first position relative to the bone engaging member (410) and a second position relative to the bone engaging member (410); a tissue capture feature; wherein the first expansion portion (710, 810) of the expander (700, 800) is configured to expand the first bone engaging portion (418) of the bone engaging member (410) and the second expansion portion (712, 812) of the expander (700, 800) is configured to expand the second bone engaging portion (422) of the bone engaging member (410) when the expander (700, 800) is in the second position, wherein the bone engaging member (410) has two or more types of teeth (428).