Knotless Tissue Repair Loop With Self-Locking Suture Tensioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical methods for repairing soft tissue, such as tears in the meniscus, often require fixation devices like anchors or knots, which can weaken the repair and lead to failure.
Innovation Solution
A knotless surgical construct using a flexible strand with a self-locking device, such as a finger-trap suture, to form a continuous and adjustable repair loop that encircles the tear, allowing for tensioning and fixation without the need for anchors or knots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If fixation devices like anchors or knots are used to secure the repair loop, then the repair can be stabilized, but the repair strength is weakened and failure risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes fixation devices (anchors, knots) from the repair system entirely. The flexible strand is passed through the tissue tear and looped back, with the ends trimmed, creating a repair that relies on the strand's flexibility and tensioning rather than external fixation mechanisms. This extraction of harmful elements resolves the contradiction by eliminating the weakness introduced by fixation devices while maintaining stability through the continuous loop structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The repair loop is designed to be self-securing through its continuous flexible strand structure. When tensioned, the loop naturally closes around the tear without requiring external fixation devices. The flexibility of the strand allows it to conform to the tissue and maintain repair stability intrinsically, resolving the contradiction by achieving stability through the repair's own structure rather than external devices that would compromise strength.
2Reliability
If traditional surgical methods are used for tissue repair, then the repair process can be completed, but the procedure complexity and time increase due to required fixation devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates complex fixation devices (anchors requiring insertion, knots requiring tying) from the surgical construct. The simplified design uses a single continuous flexible strand that is threaded through the tissue and looped back, with ends trimmed. This extraction of complex components resolves the contradiction by maintaining repair reliability through the continuous loop mechanism while dramatically reducing surgical construct complexity and procedure time.
Solution Approach 2:
The repair construct is segmented into distinct functional zones: the flexible strand passing through the tear, the looped portion providing tensioning capability, and the trimmed ends. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently without requiring complex integration of multiple devices, resolving the contradiction by achieving reliable repair through simple, well-defined segments rather than complex assembled constructs.
3Stability of the object's composition
If fixation devices are used to secure the repair, then the repair can be anchored, but the surgical time and procedure length increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes time-consuming fixation procedures (anchor insertion, knot tying) from the surgical workflow. The continuous flexible strand is simply threaded through the tissue tear and looped back, with ends trimmed. This extraction of time-consuming operations resolves the contradiction by achieving repair anchoring through the inherent tensioning capability of the looped strand rather than through multiple steps of device installation, significantly reducing surgical time while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The looped structure of the flexible strand is pre-configured to provide inherent anchoring capability before surgery begins. The looped portion, when tensioned during the procedure, automatically secures the repair without requiring additional anchoring steps. This preliminary configuration of the anchoring mechanism resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for time-consuming in-surgical anchoring operations while ensuring stable repair fixation.
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 construct provides a secure, adjustable, and reproducible repair with enhanced holding strength, reducing the risk of failure and simplifying the repair process by eliminating the need for fixation devices.
Implementation Method 1
a self-locking device is located adjacent to the loop end of the flexible strand, the self-locking device may be configured to fix the repair loop once the repair loop is tensioned around the tear without the use of a knot, a fixation device, or an implant
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Surgical constructs and methods for closing a tear in soft tissue without knot tying and without the use of fixation devices are disclosed.