Ligament Graft Holder With Nonpenetrating Suture Fixation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing graft preparation techniques, such as whip-stitching and baseball stitching, cause trauma to the graft, lead to excessive elongation, are labor-intensive, and increase the risk of needle-stick injuries, thereby complicating ligament reconstruction surgeries.

Innovation Solution

A graft preparation holder device with an elongate support rail and bendable leaf segments forms a graft receiving channel, allowing secure attachment of sutures without penetrating the graft, reducing trauma and preparation time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional whip-stitching or baseball stitching techniques are used to prepare the graft, then the graft can be secured for passing through tunnels, but the needle penetration causes trauma to the graft and leads to excessive elongation when load is applied

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegraft securityVSAvoidgraft trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the harmful needle penetration step from the graft preparation process. Instead of passing needles through the graft to create stitches, the device uses a series of loops or knots that are tied around the graft externally, securing it without penetrating the tissue and causing trauma.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary device (the preparation device with loops and knots) that mediates between the need to secure the graft and the need to avoid trauma. The loops and knots act as intermediaries that provide secure attachment points without direct needle penetration of the graft tissue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If conventional stitching techniques are used to prepare the graft, then the graft can be secured, but the process is labor-intensive and time-consuming, taking up a large portion of surgery time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegraft securityVSAvoidpreparation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs preliminary action by pre-forming the loops and knots on the preparation device before the graft is inserted. The device comes pre-configured with the securing mechanism, so that when the graft is placed, the securing action is already prepared and can be executed quickly without time-consuming manual stitching during surgery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The preparation device is designed to be self-servicing in that the loops and knots are pre-formed on the device itself, eliminating the need for the surgeon to manually create stitches. The device automatically provides the securing mechanism, reducing labor intensity and preparation time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If conventional stitching techniques are used to prepare the graft, then the graft can be secured, but the surgeon bears a risk of needle-stick injury which can lead to potential infections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegraft securityVSAvoidneedle-stick injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the needle from the graft preparation process entirely. By using loops and knots that are tied around the graft without penetration, the harmful element (needle) is removed, eliminating the risk of needle-stick injuries and potential infections while still achieving secure graft attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If conventional stitching techniques are used to prepare the graft, then the graft can be secured, but the process is cumbersome and complicates the reconstruction surgery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegraft securityVSAvoidsurgery simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the graft preparation and securing functions into a single integrated device and process. The preparation device combines the loops, knots, and graft holder into one unit, allowing the surgeon to perform both preparation and securing in a single straightforward action, simplifying the overall reconstruction surgery process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20250352324A1Graft preparation system

Publication Date: 2025.11.20 MEDOS INT SARL

AI summary

Systems and methods for preparing a ligament graft for a ligament reconstruction procedure are provided. In general, the described techniques utilize a graft holder construct having a graft preparation holder and a suture assembly removably coupled thereto. The graft preparation holder includes an elongate support rail having a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of leaf segments positioned along the longitudinal axis in a spaced relationship and extending laterally from the support rail. The leaf segments can bend to a graft holding configuration so as to define a graft receiving channel configured to receive a graft therethrough. The holder also has at least one support structure configured to mate with the leaf segments to provide stability and rigidity to the segments. The suture assembly has at least one suture tail that can be pulled to affix the suture assembly to a graft without penetrating the graft.