Multi-barrel Drill Guide for CMC Joint Suspension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current orthopedic surgical methods for suspending the CMC joint often result in patient irritation and tissue damage due to misalignment during the insertion of suture anchors, which can lead to instability and increased surgical time, especially in procedures involving soft tissue fixation in extremities.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a multi-barrel drill guide and anchor deployment assembly that allows for the simultaneous drilling and anchor insertion without losing alignment, using a suture anchor that expands within the bone hole to secure itself, and a fixation device to tension the suture, minimizing tissue irritation and damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a standard single barrel drill guide is used and the drill is removed and replaced with a driver, then the pilot hole can be created, but the alignment of the drill guide with the pilot hole may be lost requiring additional surgical time and potentially causing tissue trauma
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drill guide and anchor driver into a single integrated multi-barrel assembly. The drill guide body contains multiple channels: one for the drill bit and another for the anchor driver. This allows both tools to operate simultaneously through the same guide structure, eliminating the need to remove and replace tools, thus maintaining alignment and reducing surgical time.
Solution Approach 2:
The drill guide assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it guides the drill bit for pilot hole creation, maintains alignment during tool exchange, and guides the anchor driver for precise anchor insertion. The multi-barrel structure with multiple channels enables the same guide to accommodate different surgical instruments without losing positional accuracy.
2Manufacturing precision
If a standard single barrel drill guide is used and an additional assistant is required to maintain alignment, then the pilot hole can be created, but the device complexity and number of personnel required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple guiding functions into a single multi-barrel drill guide structure. The guide body contains multiple precisely engineered channels that simultaneously guide the drill bit and later the anchor driver. This integrated design maintains alignment precision without requiring additional assistants, as the structure itself provides the necessary guidance for both tools.
3Strength
If traditional suture anchors are used for soft tissue fixation in extremities, then the anchor can be inserted, but the anchor may be too large causing instability and irritation to surrounding tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the size parameters of the suture anchor to suit extremity anatomy. The anchor is designed with reduced dimensions - smaller diameter and shorter length - compared to traditional anchors. This parameter adjustment allows the anchor to fit within the narrower bone holes of extremities while maintaining adequate retention capacity and avoiding protrusion that would cause tissue irritation.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the size of the suture anchor is scaled down to fit within a shallow and narrow bone hole, then tissue irritation is reduced, but the anchor loses retention capacity and becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the anchor's dimensional parameters - using smaller diameter and shortened length - to fit the constrained space of extremity bone holes. This parameter adjustment reduces tissue irritation from protrusion while the anchor's design features (such as expanded distal end and suture configuration) compensate to maintain adequate retention and stability within the reduced size envelope.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for suspension of the CMC joint that minimizes patient irritation/discomfort and damage to the surrounding tissue. Specifically, the method is a method for suspending a first metacarpal in relative position to a second metacarpal. The method includes the steps of: (i) drilling a hole through the first metacarpal; (ii) inserting a drill guide through the hole in the first metacarpal; (iii) advancing the drill guide to a surface of the second metacarpal, and drilling a hole in the second metacarpal; (iv) inserting an anchor into the hole formed in the second metacarpal, wherein the anchor is attached to suture; (v) deploying the anchor within the second metacarpal; (vi) tensioning the suture attached to the anchor; and (vii) fixing the position of the first metacarpal relative to the second metacarpal using the suture.