Knotless Suture Anchor Assembly With Finger Trap Splices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Surgeons often prefer knotless suture repairs to avoid interference with joint repairs, but existing methods require knots to secure soft tissue grafts to bone.

Innovation Solution

A screw-in anchor with a suture construct featuring finger trap splices and preloaded transfer sutures allows for knotless attachment of soft tissue to bone by forming reducible loops around captured tissue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional suture anchors with knots are used to attach soft tissue graft to bone, then secure fixation is achieved, but the knot interferes with joint repair

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixation securityVSAvoidknot interference with joint repair

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the knot from the suture anchor system. The suture construct is designed with pre-formed loops and constriction elements that eliminate the need for knots, thereby removing the harmful interference with joint repair while maintaining secure fixation of soft tissue graft to bone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If knots are tied to secure soft tissue graft to bone, then reliable attachment is achieved, but surgical time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue attachment securityVSAvoidsurgical time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The suture construct is pre-assembled with pre-formed loops and constriction elements during manufacturing. This preliminary action eliminates the need for time-consuming knot-tying procedures during surgery, allowing surgeons to simply pass the suture through tissue and pull to secure attachment, significantly reducing surgical time while maintaining reliable fixation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If traditional suture methods with knots are used, then tissue securing is achieved, but surgical procedure complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue securingVSAvoidsurgical procedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The suture construct incorporates self-adjusting constriction elements that automatically tighten and lock when pulled, eliminating the need for surgeon-manipulated knot-tying. The pre-formed loops and constriction mechanisms perform the securing function automatically, simplifying the surgical procedure while ensuring reliable tissue attachment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20260076665A1Surgical fixation assemblies and methods of use

Publication Date: 2026.03.19 SMITH & NEPHEW INC

AI summary

Surgical fixation assemblies include a screw-in anchor with a suture construct attached to and extending through an interior of the anchor. The suture construct has two finger trap splices to trap suture that has been passed through them when the construct is placed in tension. Transfer sutures containing loops are preloaded through the finger trap splices and used to pull the ends of the repair sutures through the finger trap splices to form reducing loops around or through captured tissue.