Knotless Suture Anchor with Expandable Shell for Bone Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing soft tissue fixation methods require a multi-step process for connecting sutures to suture anchors, which can be time-consuming and challenging to maintain the desired tension, often leading to ineffective repairs that necessitate repetition.
Innovation Solution
A suture anchor device with a unique geometry that allows for rapid and precise deployment into bone by rotating the anchor about its longitudinal axis, facilitating the passage and connection of sutures with minimal tension change, using a deployment pin and expandable shell with wing projections for secure fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional multi-step process is used to connect suture to suture anchor, then the connection can be achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and challenging to maintain desired tension
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the suture passage function and tension maintenance function into the suture anchor itself. The suture anchor includes an internal passage that guides the suture from the tissue side to the bone side, eliminating the need for separate connection steps. The expandable structure maintains tension on the suture as it expands within the bone tunnel, allowing single-step deployment that achieves both secure connection and tension maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The suture is pre-threaded through the internal passage of the suture anchor before deployment. This preliminary action ensures that the suture is already in position and under appropriate tension before the anchor is inserted into the bone tunnel and expanded, eliminating the need for post-deployment knot tying or suture connection steps.
2Ease of operation
If suture tension is not maintained at desired levels during anchor deployment, then the deployment process is simplified, but the suture becomes ineffective requiring repetition
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable structure of the suture anchor provides mechanical feedback during deployment. As the anchor expands within the bone tunnel, it naturally maintains tension on the suture through the interaction between the expandable walls and the bone tunnel constraints. This self-regulating mechanism ensures appropriate tension is maintained without requiring complex control systems or multiple adjustment steps.
3Measurement precision
If a complex multi-step process is used for suture anchor deployment, then precise control can be achieved, but the surgical technique becomes less reproducible
Solution Approach 1:
The suture anchor is segmented into distinct functional components: an external expansion surface for bone engagement, an internal passage for suture guidance, and an expandable structure for fixation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the deployment process while maintaining precision through the coordinated action of these specialized components.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems and apparatuses for soft tissue repair including a device for anchoring sutured tissue to a bone are disclosed. According to one example, the device can include a body and a member. The body can have a wall with an outer surface thereof configured to engage the bone of a patient. The body can define an inner passage extending generally from a proximal end thereof to a distal end thereof. The wall can have a first side having a first size that differs from a second size of a second side of the wall. The member can be configured to be disposed within the body and can be moveable along the inner passage relative to the body between a first position and a second position. The member can be configured with an eyelet to receive and pass a suture through the member when the member is in the first position.