Prosthetic Ligament Anchor Curved Exit Pathway
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current orthopedic repair techniques for the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) often result in unsatisfactory long-term performance due to instability and arthrosis, as traditional grafts fail to replicate the original anatomy and suffer from variability and mechanical issues like bending fatigue and bone loss.
Innovation Solution
A prosthetic system comprising uniquely configured anchors and ligaments with a prosthetic ligament loop held by restraints, featuring a longitudinal tunnel with a curved exit and a radius of curvature that accommodates high strength, high modulus polymer fibers, providing durable anchorage and osseointegration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional interference screws or cross-pin techniques are used to anchor the prosthesis, then the prosthesis can be fixed into the bone, but the prosthesis must bend over the edge of the bone hole which leads to bone loss and mechanical damage
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor features a curved exit pathway with a specific radius of curvature that matches the prosthesis geometry, allowing the prosthesis to exit the bone hole without sharp bending. This curved geometry eliminates the harmful bending stresses that cause bone loss and mechanical damage while maintaining secure anchorage.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved exit pathway acts as an intermediary element between the bone hole and the prosthesis, providing a transition zone that protects the prosthesis from direct contact with the bone edge and prevents the bending that would otherwise occur.
2Reliability
If the prosthesis is anchored using conventional methods, then initial stability is achieved, but bending fatigue and wear lead to reconstruction failure over time
Solution Approach 1:
The curved exit pathway eliminates repeated bending cycles that cause fatigue failure, allowing the prosthesis to maintain its mechanical integrity over the long term while preserving initial stability through secure anchorage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the anchor exit pathway to match the prosthesis characteristics, optimizing the radius of curvature to prevent both immediate mechanical damage and long-term fatigue wear.
3Stability of the object's composition
If autograft or allograft tendons are used for ACL replacement, then the knee becomes stable, but the grafts cannot perfectly imitate the anatomy of the original ACL resulting in unsatisfactory long term performance
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthetic ligament is designed to copy and replicate the anatomical characteristics of the original ACL, including its geometry and mechanical properties, providing both stability and anatomical fidelity that natural tissue grafts cannot achieve.
4Ease of operation
If the anchor leading end diameter is larger than the elongated body diameter, then easier insertion might be achieved, but the prosthesis would experience greater bending stress at the exit
Solution Approach 1:
The curved exit pathway compensates for the uniform diameter design, providing a smooth transition that reduces bending stress while the anchor geometry maintains ease of insertion through the bone hole.
Data Source
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Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
The present invention features systems for orthopedic repair of, for example, a joint. The present systems deviate from conventional systems by virtue of combining a finer prosthetic ligament with a robust anchor. The relationship between these components and their various features are described herein and result in joint reconstruction in human and veterinary settings that is less likely to fail over time.