Knotless Self-Locking Tissue Repair Construct for Uniform Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical techniques for tissue repairs, such as in reconstructive surgeries, often require multiple knots and complex suturing processes, leading to inefficiencies and potential failure points due to knot slippage.
Innovation Solution
The development of knotless, self-locking, tensionable surgical constructs that utilize a reinforcement material with a self-locking mechanism, including a flexible coupler and eyelets, allowing for a splice to be formed within the construct, enabling secure attachment of tissues without knots, thereby simplifying the suturing process and enhancing fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional knotted suturing techniques are used, then tissue fixation can be achieved, but the complexity of the surgical procedure increases and reliability decreases due to knot slippage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the knotting step from the traditional suturing process. The suture construct includes pre-formed loops and eyelets that allow for direct tissue fixation without requiring knots to be tied, thereby removing the source of reliability issues associated with knot slippage while maintaining fixation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary mechanism (the self-locking loop structure with eyelets) that mediates between the suture material and the tissue. This intermediary structure provides the fixation function traditionally achieved by knots, but through a more reliable mechanical interlocking system that eliminates slippage risks
2Strength
If multiple knots are used for secure fixation, then tissue attachment strength improves, but the surgical time and procedure complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The suture construct is prepared in advance with pre-formed loops, eyelets, and self-locking mechanisms integrated into the structure. This preliminary configuration eliminates the need for time-consuming knot-tying steps during surgery, as the fixation capability is already built into the suture construct itself
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges multiple functions (securing, locking, and fixing) into a single integrated suture construct design. The self-locking loop structure combines the functions of traditional knots with additional locking mechanisms, allowing all fixation actions to be achieved through a single pass rather than multiple sequential knot-tying steps
3Stability of the object's composition
If traditional suturing methods are used, then tissue repair can be performed, but uniform compression is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The suture construct incorporates multiple loops and eyelets distributed along its length, creating localized compression zones. Each loop can independently engage tissue at specific locations, allowing for distributed and uniform compression across the repair site rather than concentrated force at single knot points
Solution Approach 2:
The self-locking loops are designed to dynamically adjust and lock at optimal tension points. As the suture is passed through tissue, the loops automatically engage and lock at appropriate locations, providing adaptive compression that ensures uniform distribution of force across the tissue repair site
Data Source
AI summary
Surgical constructs, assemblies, and methods for tissue reinforcement with a reinforcement (reinforcing) material are disclosed. A surgical construct can include a reinforcement material with a self-locking mechanism. The self-locking mechanism can include at least one eyelet attached to a flexible coupler and secured to a reinforcement material, to form at least one splice located partially or totally within a surgical construct. The splice can be formed with a shuttle/pull device. The surgical construct can be provided with holes or eyelets to facilitate suture passes through a reinforcement material. The surgical construct can be knotless, self-locking, tensionable, self-cinching. The surgical construct provides self-locking, self-cinching, knotless soft sue to bone fixation, without knot formation, with fewer passing steps, increased fixation, and uniform soft tissue compression.