Knotless Suture Anchor Assembly for Bone Tissue Fixation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current arthroscopic procedures for securing soft tissue to bone often result in limited contact area between the tissue and bone, requiring multiple anchor points that are time-consuming and inefficient, leading to prolonged recovery times for patients.

Innovation Solution

An anchor assembly with a distal portion and a proximal portion, featuring a cavity, barbs, and a sleeve, along with an insertion member and a delivery device that includes a handle, knobs, and a shaft, allowing for secure attachment of sutures to the bone with a broad area of contact through axial advancement and threading mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If multiple anchor points are used to increase contact area, then the repair strength is improved, but the procedure time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverepair strengthVSAvoidprocedure time
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple anchor points into a single integrated anchor assembly with a body that engages bone at multiple locations simultaneously. The suture anchor includes a body with multiple engagement features (such as barbs or threads) that can secure the suture to bone at several points in one operation, rather than requiring separate anchor implants for each attachment point.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The anchor assembly is divided into functional segments: a body portion for bone engagement, a suture portion for tissue attachment, and an insertion member for delivery. This segmentation allows the complex multi-point attachment function to be achieved through coordinated action of simpler components, facilitating faster assembly and insertion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If a knotless mechanism is used for suture attachment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of suture attachmentVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The anchor assembly incorporates self-aligning and self-locking features where the insertion member automatically positions itself within the anchor body cavity and the barbed or threaded surfaces self-engages with the bone. The suture can be attached without requiring external knot-tying assistance, as the anchor geometry guides and secures the suture ends automatically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The anchor body and insertion member are pre-configured with complementary geometries (such as threaded cavities and matching threads, or barbed surfaces) that automatically engage when the insertion member is driven into place. This preliminary configuration eliminates the need for complex intraoperative assembly steps and simplifies the suture attachment process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2498687B1Locking suture anchor assembly
Publication Date: 2020.06.17 SMITH & NEPHEW INC
  • EP2498687B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2498687B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2498687B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to an anchor assembly. The anchor assembly includes an anchor including a distal portion and a proximal portion, the anchor defining a cavity and an opening to the cavity; an insertion member disposed within the cavity of the anchor; and a sleeve coupled to the anchor, the sleeve disposed over the proximal portion of the anchor. A delivery device is also disclosed.