Knotless Suture Anchor With Sliding Collar Lock

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional suture anchors require knot-tying, which is difficult in tight clearances, especially during arthroscopic surgery, to secure soft tissue to bone.

Innovation Solution

A knotless suture anchor system featuring a slidable collar member and inner member with locking mechanisms that frictionally secure the suture thread without the need for knot-tying, using a bio-absorbable material for the anchor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional suture anchors are used requiring knot-tying, then soft tissue can be secured to bone, but the procedure becomes difficult in tight clearances such as arthroscopic surgery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of securing soft tissue to boneVSAvoidcomplexity of knot-tying procedure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the knot-tying step from the traditional suture anchor procedure. The collar member is designed to automatically secure the suture through friction engagement when slid into the locked position, removing the need for manual knot manipulation that is difficult in tight arthroscopic clearances

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The suture anchor system performs self-securing through the friction engagement between the collar member and proximal shaft. When the collar is slid distally to the locked position, the misaligned holes and friction surface automatically secure the suture without requiring external manipulation or knot-tying by the surgeon

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If knot-tying is required to secure the suture, then the suture can be tied off, but tight clearances in arthroscopic surgery make it difficult to manipulate sutures to tie the knot

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of suture attachmentVSAvoidease of suture manipulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the manual knot-tying mechanical system with a friction-based engagement system. The collar member's internal friction surface engages with the proximal shaft when slid into position, automatically securing the suture through friction rather than requiring manual knot manipulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The collar member acts as an intermediary between the suture and the proximal shaft. It provides a friction surface that mediates the securing of the suture to the anchor system, eliminating the need for direct manual manipulation of the suture to create knots

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enables secure attachment of soft tissue to bone without the need for knot-tying, facilitating easier manipulation and reducing complications in tight surgical spaces.

Implementation Method 1

the collar member is moved distally, for example, using a suture anchor insertion tool. This causes the hole of the collar member to come out of alignment with the hole of the inner member, thereby causing the suture to be frictionally secured between the outer surface of the inner member and the inner surface of the collar member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS7837710B2Knotless suture anchor

Publication Date: 2010.11.23 LINVATEC CORP

AI summary

A knotless suture anchor and method for its insertion into tissue are provided. The suture anchor includes an inner member including a proximal shaft and a distal securing member shaped to secure the inner member to the tissue, the proximal shaft including a first locking part and at least one hole extending therethrough for receiving the suture thread; and a collar member including an axial bore shaped to receive the proximal shaft of the inner member, a second locking part, and at least one hole extending therethrough and assigned to the hole of the proximal shaft of the inner member, the collar member being axially slidable into unlocked and locked positions relative to the proximal shaft of the inner member, the collar member being relatively axially slidable into the locked position only to secure the suture thread. The hole of the collar member is aligned with the hole of the proximal shaft of the inner member when the collar member is placed into the unlocked position, the hole of the collar member is misaligned with the hole of the proximal shaft of the inner member when the collar member is placed into the locked position, and the first locking part of the proximal shaft engages with the second locking part of the collar member to axially lock the collar member with respect to the proximal shaft when the collar member is placed into the locked position.