Knotless Suture Anchor Construct with Nested Filament Loops
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suture anchor technologies face challenges in securing tissue to a bone hole without knots, ensuring proper tissue positioning, and minimizing tissue abrasion during tensioning, as they often require knot tying, use rigid materials, or cause post-operative pain due to knot irritation.
Innovation Solution
A knotless suture anchor construct featuring a flexible anchor body and filament configuration that allows for adjustable loops to secure tissue without knots, using Poisson's ratio for expansion and contraction to ensure strong contact with the bone hole, and minimizing tissue damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional suture anchors with knots are used, then secure tissue fixation is achieved, but post-operative pain from knot irritation and difficulty in arthroscopic knot tying occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the knot component from the suture anchor system. The filament is designed to be secured within the anchor body through internal retention mechanisms (such as woven patterns, interlocking structures, or friction fit) rather than requiring external knots, thereby eliminating knot-related tissue irritation while maintaining secure fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor body serves as an intermediary structure that mediates between the filament and the bone hole. Instead of the filament directly contacting tissue through knots, the anchor body provides a controlled interface that secures the filament internally and positions the tissue without knot-induced irritation.
2Strength
If rigid materials are used for suture anchors, then structural strength is achieved, but tissue damage from abrasion during tensioning occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a flexible filament structure that can deform and conform to tissue contours during tensioning, reducing abrasion damage. The filament's flexibility allows it to glide smoothly through tissue without creating sharp edges or rigid contact points that would cause abrasion, while the anchor body maintains structural strength through its design.
Solution Approach 2:
The suture anchor system combines different material properties: the anchor body provides structural strength and stability (potentially using rigid or semi-rigid material), while the filament uses flexible, low-friction material that minimizes tissue abrasion during tensioning and adjustment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable loops are implemented, then tissue positioning flexibility is improved, but suture length requirements increase causing tissue abrasion
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a nested loop structure where an inner loop is contained within an outer loop. This nested configuration allows for adjustable tissue positioning by selectively tightening or loosening the loops, while the compact nested design minimizes the overall suture length required compared to extended external loops, thereby reducing tissue abrasion.
4Ease of operation
If driver engagement is maintained during tensioning, then anchor control is achieved, but tissue cannot be positioned directly over pilot hole
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the installation process into distinct phases: first, the anchor is inserted and controlled by the driver; second, the driver is removed; third, the filament is tensioned and tissue is positioned. This segmentation allows the driver to provide control during anchor insertion while enabling precise tissue positioning over the pilot hole in the subsequent tensioning phase without driver interference.
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
Facilitates easy tissue positioning and adjustment over the bone hole, reduces tissue abrasion, and eliminates the need for knot tying, providing a secure and comfortable surgical solution.
Implementation Method 1
using Poisson's ratio for expansion and contraction to ensure strong contact with the bone hole
Data Source
AI summary
A knotless suture anchor construct for securing a tissue in a desired position relative to a bone hole. The construct includes an anchor body extending between first and second ends and having first and second sides. The construct also includes a filament having a first end and a second end. The filament is woven through a plurality of passing locations along the anchor body such that the first end of the filament extends from the first end of the anchor body and the second end of the filament extends from the second end of the anchor body. The construct additionally includes a first loop in the filament between a first adjacent pair of the plurality of passing locations and a second loop in the filament between a second adjacent pair of the plurality of passing locations. In a pre-deployment configuration, the second loop extends through the first loop.