Multi-piece anchor inserter for minimally invasive soft tissue repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for attaching soft tissue to bone in minimally invasive surgical procedures face challenges due to limited space and the difficulty in effectively securing tissues without causing trauma, as surgeons have less room to maneuver compared to open surgery.
Innovation Solution
A multi-piece anchor inserter system comprising a suture anchor with a handle and tip portion, where the tip portion is configured to mate with the handle and extend into the anchor's inner lumen, allowing for secure implantation of the anchor in bone, and includes a suture system with a collapsible loop and continuous loop to tension the tissue without directly cutting it.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional single-piece anchor inserters are used in minimally invasive surgery, then the surgical procedure can be performed through small incisions, but the surgeon has significantly less room to maneuver and it becomes difficult to effectively secure tissue without causing trauma
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor inserter is divided into multiple separable components: a handle portion, a shaft portion, and a tip portion. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while enabling the surgeon to manipulate the tool more effectively through small incisions. The separable design provides greater flexibility and ease of maneuverability in confined surgical spaces compared to conventional single-piece inserters.
2Ease of operation
If the anchor inserter is designed as a multi-piece system with separable components, then the surgeon gains improved maneuverability in limited spaces, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inserter is segmented into handle, shaft, and tip portions that can be separately manufactured and assembled. This segmentation improves maneuverability while the modular design actually simplifies manufacturing and quality control compared to single-piece construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple components are designed to combine into a unified tool that functions as a single integrated system during use. The components connect through standardized interfaces that align precision features, ensuring that the assembled tool operates smoothly without the complexity of multiple independent systems.
3Manufacturing precision
If the tip portion is configured to extend into the anchor's inner lumen for secure mating, then the anchor implantation precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tip portion is pre-configured with specific geometric features that complement corresponding features in the anchor's inner lumen. This preliminary design of the interface ensures precise alignment and secure mating when the components are assembled, eliminating the need for complex adjustment mechanisms during implantation.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface between the tip portion and anchor is designed with localized precision features at the specific mating location, while other portions of the components maintain simpler geometries. This concentrates manufacturing precision where it is most needed for accurate anchor implantation, without unnecessarily complicating the entire device structure.
Data Source
AI summary
Various devices, systems, and methods are provided for securing soft tissue to bone. In one exemplary embodiment, a two-piece inserter tool is provided that includes a tip portion that is configured to be removably coupled to a handle portion. A distal portion of the tip portion can be configured to be coupled to a suture anchor, and the tip portion and the anchor can be passed through a continuous suture loop prior to mating the tip portion to the handle portion.