Knotless Suture Anchor Insertion With Eyelet and Cannulated Screw

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for securing soft tissue to bone require surgeons to tie suture knots, which can be time-consuming and may lead to complications.

Innovation Solution

A suture-anchor insertion device that uses a tip component with an eyelet to hold sutures, a cannulated screw to secure the tip component in a pilot hole, and a handle mechanism for easy insertion without knot-tying, featuring spools or shoulder cleats to manage suture ends and a stay suture for release.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional knot-tying methods are used to secure sutures to bone, then the surgeon can achieve secure attachment, but the procedure becomes time-consuming and may lead to complications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure attachmentVSAvoidprocedural time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the knot-tying step from the surgical procedure by using a suture anchor device with a tip component that defines an eyelet. The suture is inserted through the eyelet and secured by advancing a plug over the shaft, eliminating the need for the surgeon to tie knots manually. This removes the time-consuming and potentially complicated knot-tying process while maintaining secure attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The suture anchor device acts as an intermediary between the suture and the bone. The tip component with eyelet holds the suture, and the plug component secures the tip component in the pilot hole. This intermediary mechanism replaces direct knot-tying with a device-mediated attachment system that is faster and more reliable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If traditional knot-tying methods are used to secure sutures to bone, then the surgeon can achieve secure attachment, but the procedure becomes complex and prone to complications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure attachmentVSAvoidcomplications
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By removing the knot-tying step entirely and replacing it with a push-button or advance-based securing mechanism, the patent eliminates the source of many surgical complications associated with knot-tying, such as loose knots, difficult-to-tie knots in tight spaces, and surgeon fatigue. The device provides consistent, complication-free attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The suture anchor device is self-securing through the interaction between the tip component and plug component. The plug advances over the shaft and secures the tip component in the pilot hole without requiring external manipulation or knot-tying by the surgeon. This self-service mechanism reduces human error and complications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of time

If a suture anchor device with eyelet is used to hold sutures, then knot-tying is eliminated and procedural time is reduced, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocedural timeVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The suture anchor device is segmented into distinct functional components: the tip component with eyelet for holding the suture, the shaft for insertion, and the plug component for securing. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, reducing overall procedural time despite the increased device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tip component is inserted into the pilot hole first, and then the plug component is advanced over the shaft to secure the tip component. This nested arrangement, where one component fits within or over another, allows for a compact design that achieves complex functionality without excessive device size or complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Reliability

If spools or shoulder cleats are used to manage suture ends, then suture integrity is maintained during insertion, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuture integrityVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spools or shoulder cleats are pre-configured on the device to manage and organize the suture ends before insertion. This preliminary organization ensures that the suture remains intact and properly positioned during the insertion process, maintaining suture reliability while adding only minimal structural elements to the device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4285841B1Suture-anchor insertion device
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 OSSIO LTD
  • EP4285841B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4285841B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4285841B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B

AI summary

The present invention is directed to a suture-anchor insertion device used to insert a suture anchor into bone, such that the suture anchor secures soft tissue to the bone in a manner that does not require the surgeon to tie suture knots to secure the tissue to the bone. The apparatus for securing a suture to a bone, comprises a suture anchor configured to be inserted into a hole in the bone, the suture anchor comprises: a tip component configured to be advanced into the hole, the tip component comprises: a widened end portion that defines an eyelet that is configured to receive the suture; a shaft that projects axially from the widened end portion; and a cannulated screw configured to secure the tip component within the hole within the bone by being advanced over the shaft of the tip component; and a suture-anchor insertion device comprises: a handle portion; one or more rods; and one or more spools configured to releasably secure proximal ends of the suture by the proximal ends of the suture being wound around the one or more spools.