Porous Soft Tissue Fixation Device for Prosthetic Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for attaching soft tissue to prosthetic implants, such as sutures or mechanical clamps, face challenges like minimal purchase, tendon tearing, time-consuming processes, and inhibition of healing factors, which hinder long-term biological fixation.
Innovation Solution
A soft tissue fixation device with a porous section and securing structures that allow for mechanical attachment while enabling tissue ingrowth and blood supply, featuring a frame with a solid perimeter and porous section, and attachment posts with set screws for secure and efficient fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If sutures are used to attach tendon to prosthesis, then the attachment process is simple, but the sutures have minimal purchase in the tendon and can cause the tendon to tear
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates a porous section that extends through the depth of the body, allowing tissue ingrowth and providing secure mechanical purchase in the tendon without causing tearing. The porous structure increases surface area and mechanical interlocking while maintaining ease of attachment.
2Reliability
If a mechanical clamp is used to attach the tendon to the prosthesis, then the purchase area is larger and the attachment is more secure, but the healing factors from the gastrocnemius flap cannot reach the portions of the tendon under the clamps
Solution Approach 1:
The porous section allows healing factors and blood supply from the gastrocnemius flap to penetrate through the device and reach the tendon tissue, eliminating the harmful effect of healing factor inhibition while maintaining secure mechanical attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The device combines a solid perimeter frame for mechanical strength and secure attachment with a porous internal structure for tissue ingrowth and healing factor transport, creating a composite structure that simultaneously provides both security and biological integration.
3Device complexity
If sutures are used for attachment, then the device is simple to implement, but the process is time consuming and inefficient for the surgeon
Solution Approach 1:
The device replaces the time-consuming manual suture tying process with a mechanical clamp-like structure that can be quickly applied and secured, significantly improving surgical efficiency while maintaining simplicity of the overall device design.
4Reliability
If the porous section extends through the entire depth of the body, then tissue ingrowth is maximized, but the structural integrity of the device may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses a composite structure with a solid perimeter frame providing structural integrity and strength, while the porous internal section extends through the depth to maximize tissue ingrowth capability without compromising overall device strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is segmented into a solid perimeter frame for structural support and a porous internal section for tissue interaction, allowing each region to be optimized for its specific function while working together as a unified structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device provides a secure mechanical attachment that allows for tissue ingrowth and healing, maximizing the likelihood of biological fixation and reducing the risk of tendon necrosis, thus ensuring long-term stability and integration with the prosthetic implant.
Implementation Method 1
The porous section extends through the depth of the body so the anterior surface is in communication with the posterior surface through the porous section
Data Source
AI summary
A device for attaching soft tissue to a prosthetic implant. The device includes a body that includes a frame and a porous section disposed within the frame, wherein the porous section permits the passage of body fluids therethrough to encourage the healing of the soft tissue as well as the growth of soft tissue into and through the porous section.