Friction Detent Fastener Delivery for Tendon Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical procedures lack effective methods for repairing partial thickness tears of the supraspinatus tendon, leading to further damage and chronic pain, as they do not adequately strengthen or repair the tendon, resulting in limited recovery of full range of motion and chronic pain.
Innovation Solution
The development of medical devices and methods involving a fastener delivery system with a shaft, handle assembly, and prongs to deliver and secure fasteners into tissue, including a fastener push rod with detents for frictional retention, and a fixation tool with pilot members and prongs to pierce and deploy staples for tendon repair implants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current medical procedures are used for rotator cuff injury, then the procedure is simple and non-invasive, but the tendon is not adequately repaired or strengthened leading to further damage and chronic pain
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery system is divided into distinct modular components: a shaft for accessing the injury site, a separate fastener component for tendon repair, and a push rod for deploying the fastener. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system manageability during the surgical procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener is pre-loaded onto the push rod within the delivery system before the procedure begins. This preliminary preparation ensures that the fastener is positioned and ready for immediate deployment when needed, streamlining the actual repair process and reducing procedural complexity during surgery.
2Reliability
If a fastener delivery system with multiple components is used, then secure fastener placement is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detent mechanism and release trigger are integrated into a single unified system within the handle assembly. The trigger simultaneously controls the release of the detent and the deployment of the fastener, reducing the number of separate control mechanisms needed and simplifying the overall device operation despite the multiple components involved.
Solution Approach 2:
The detent acts as an intermediary mechanical element between the push rod and the fastener. It provides a simple friction-based locking mechanism that secures the fastener during delivery without requiring complex locking systems, thereby maintaining fastener retention while minimizing device complexity.
3Reliability
If the fastener push rod uses friction-based detents for fastener retention, then secure fastener carrying is achieved, but the mechanism requires precise positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The detent mechanism utilizes the natural friction between the detent surface and the fastener shaft to provide secure retention. The geometry of the detent and fastener interface is designed so that the components self-align and self-lock through friction without requiring additional positioning features or complex adjustment mechanisms, thereby reducing manufacturing precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The friction-based retention system allows for adjustable retention force by modifying parameters such as the detent contact surface area, material properties, and contact pressure. This enables the system to accommodate variations in fastener dimensions and materials without requiring extremely precise detent positioning, as the friction parameters can be tuned to provide adequate retention.
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 described system enables the secure placement and retention of tendon repair implants, potentially preventing further tendon damage by strengthening the tendon, reducing pain, and enhancing joint stability, thus avoiding more extensive surgical interventions.
Implementation Method 1
the fastener push rod includes one or more detents configured to be received within a passageway of a fastener and secure the fastener to the fastener push rod with friction
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener delivery tool configured to deliver a fastener into tissue of a patient including a shaft, a handle assembly connected to a proximal end of the shaft, one or more prongs connected to a distal end of the shaft, and a fastener push rod received at least partially within the shaft, wherein the fastener push rod is connected to the handle assembly, wherein the fastener push rod is moveable relative to the shaft, and wherein the fastener push rod includes one or more detents configured to be received within a passageway of a fastener and secure the fastener to the fastener push rod with friction.