Internal Fibula Sling Fixation Without Fibular Drill Holes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing syndesmotic fixation methods, such as metal screws and suture buttons, cause stress fractures, tissue irritation, and mal-reductions, as they require drilling through bones and rely heavily on surgeon placement, leading to poor clinical outcomes and degenerative ankle issues.

Innovation Solution

A stabilization system using anchors secured in the tibia and a suture that wraps around the fibula, eliminating the need to drill through the fibula, thereby stabilizing the joint without causing stress fractures or tissue irritation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If metal screws are used for syndesmotic fixation, then the joint is stabilized, but stress fractures occur in the fibula and tissue irritation happens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejoint stabilizationVSAvoidstress fractures and tissue irritation

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the harmful drilling action from the fibula by relocating the anchor points to the tibia only. The suture system provides stabilization without requiring holes in the fibula, thereby eliminating stress fractures and tissue irritation caused by metallic implants while maintaining joint stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The suture acts as an intermediary element that transfers the stabilizing force from the tibial anchors to the fibula without direct mechanical contact. This indirect fixation method avoids the harmful effects of metal implants on soft tissues and bone while achieving the desired joint stabilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If suture buttons are used for syndesmotic fixation, then the joint is stabilized, but holes are drilled through the fibula and tibia causing stress fractures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejoint stabilizationVSAvoidstress fractures from drill holes

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the requirement for drilling holes through the fibula by placing anchors exclusively in the tibia. The suture wraps around the fibula to provide stabilization, eliminating the harmful drill holes that cause stress fractures while maintaining effective joint fixation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If screws or suture buttons are placed through the fibula and tibia, then fixation is achieved, but mal-reductions occur due to force vectors and implant position dependence

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixation reliabilityVSAvoidreduction accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of placing anchors in the fibula and pulling through the syndesmosis, the invention inverts the approach by placing anchors in the tibia and wrapping the suture around the fibula. This reversal of the fixation strategy eliminates problematic force vectors and reduces dependence on precise implant positioning, thereby improving reduction accuracy while maintaining fixation reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS20260096815A1Internal fibula sling

Publication Date: 2026.04.09 GLOBUS MEDICAL INC

AI summary

Syndesmotic fixation devices, systems, instruments, and methods thereof. An implant for stabilizing an ankle joint between a tibia and a fibula may include first and second anchors secured to the tibia and a suture configured to wrap around the fibula. The suture may be tensioned to provide a circumferential force around the fibula to stabilize the joint.