Knotless Suture Anchor for Soft Tissue Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for securing soft tissue to bone often require tying knots, which can lead to issues like loop security and knot size obstructing tight joints, potentially causing tissue damage and inadequate fixation.
Innovation Solution
The use of a surgical repair construct comprising a snare linkage, a collapsible loop, and a flexible suture pin, which allows for knotless securement of soft tissue to bone by atraumatically passing through tissue and collapsing to approximate the tissue to the bone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional knot tying methods are used to secure soft tissue to bone, then the tissue can be fixed, but the knots can slip causing loop security issues and the knot size can obstruct tight joints potentially damaging cartilage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the knot component entirely from the fixation system. Instead of using conventional knot tying methods, the invention employs a knotless suture anchor system where the suture is secured through a sliding mechanism within the anchor body, eliminating the harmful effects of knot size and slippage while maintaining fixation reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a sliding knot mechanism as an intermediary between the suture and the anchor. This sliding knot travels within a controlled path inside the anchor body, providing secure fixation without requiring external knot tying that could obstruct joints or cause cartilage damage
2Reliability
If multiple half hitches are tied to prevent slippage, then loop security improves, but the overall knot size increases and becomes more intrusive in tight joints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the multiple half-hitch knot structure and replaces it with a simplified sliding mechanism. The sliding knot within the anchor provides equivalent or superior anti-slippage security through friction and geometric constraints, eliminating the need for complex multi-component knot structures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the fixation system by transitioning from a static knot structure to a dynamic sliding mechanism. The sliding knot can move along a controlled path within the anchor, allowing for tension adjustment and secure locking without requiring multiple stacked knot components
3Ease of operation
If a sliding knot is used to approximate tissue to bone, then the repair function is achieved, but the sliding knot can slip before additional knots are tied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a controlled sliding mechanism as an intermediary between the suture and the anchor. This mechanism allows the sliding knot to move smoothly for tissue approximation while simultaneously providing friction-based and geometry-based constraints that prevent unintended slippage, resolving the reliability issue
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic sliding knot mechanism that can move freely along a controlled path within the anchor during the approximation phase, then locks into position through friction and geometric constraints. This dynamic behavior provides both ease of operation for tissue approximation and reliability for preventing slippage
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices, and methods are provided for securing soft tissue to bone, for securing one or more objects using a surgical filament, and for drawing two or more tissues together so they can be secured in a desired location. One exemplary embodiment of a surgical repair construct that is configured to atraumatically pass through soft tissue to secure tissue in a knotless manner includes a snare linkage, a collapsible loop, and a flexible suture pin. The snare linkage can include a collapsible snare for receiving the collapsible loop, and in use the snare can be collapsed around the collapsible loop and advanced distally towards the bone until the snare is proximate to the tissue, while the collapsible loop can be collapsed distally towards the bone to bring the tissue into proximity with the bone. Other exemplary systems, devices, and methods for use with soft tissue repair are also provided.