Knotless Soft Anchor System for Orthopedic Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing soft anchor systems for orthopedic surgeries require knot-tying, which adds complexity, time, and anatomical disruption, and may lead to bulk and palpability at the repair site, while also risking migration and arthritis if the anchors loosen.
Innovation Solution
A knotless soft anchor system using a tubular braided body with a knotless suture-locking-passage region, where sutures are interwoven repeatedly through the anchor to secure the soft anchor in a deployed configuration without the need for knots, providing high fixation strength and minimal bone removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If knot-tying is used to secure the anchor and tissue together, then the anchor can be firmly fixed, but the procedure becomes more complex, time-consuming, and anatomically disruptive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the knot-tying step from the anchoring procedure by using a pre-formed loop construct that self-secures within the anchor body. The suture loop is passed through the anchor and tensioned to lock in place, eliminating the need for external knot manipulation and reducing procedural complexity while maintaining secure fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor system is designed to self-lock the suture loop through its internal structure. The pre-formed loop construct automatically secures itself within the anchor body when tension is applied, without requiring the surgeon to tie external knots. This self-service mechanism simplifies the procedure while ensuring reliable fixation.
2Reliability
If knots are tied to secure the anchor, then the anchor is firmly attached, but bulk and palpability are added to the repair site
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the knot-tying operation from the final construct by using a pre-formed loop that locks internally within the anchor body. This eliminates the external knot bulk that would otherwise be present at the repair site, reducing palpability while maintaining secure attachment through the internal locking mechanism.
3Strength
If rigid anchors are used to attach tissue to bone, then strong fixation is achieved, but risk of anatomical damage increases if anchors loosen and migrate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the anchor from rigid to soft/compliant material. This soft anchor construct maintains adequate fixation strength through its interaction with the bone tunnel and suture loop mechanism, while reducing the harmful effect of rigid material migration into joint spaces if the anchor becomes dislodged.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If soft flexible anchors are used, then anatomical damage risk is reduced, but deployment consistency and fixation strength vary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming the suture loop construct before insertion into the anchor. This pre-configured loop structure ensures consistent deployment behavior and reliable locking within the anchor body, eliminating variability in the soft anchor performance while maintaining the safety benefits of soft materials.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of tissue repair with a knotless tissue repair construct system is disclosed. System may include multiple anchor constructs that are soft anchor constructs. The multiple anchor constructs may include at least one knotless construct and may be inserted separately and coupled to each other as part of the method. The method may form a knotless all-suture staple construct. The method may form a knotless all-suture construct in a chain configuration. The method may include coupling a graft or bio-inductive material to the repair site. The method may include augmenting a ligament repair.