Recurved Tine Soft Tissue Fixation Device for Orthopedic Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for repairing torn tendon-to-bone and ligament-to-bone attachments in orthopedic surgery have high failure rates due to poor soft tissue-hard tissue fixation, with sutures often resulting in gap formation or rupture at the interface, leading to inadequate healing.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a base with recurved tines that provides unidirectional traction and secure attachment of soft tissues to bone, distributing stress evenly across multiple points to enhance fixation and integration, inspired by the recurved teeth of pythons, which can be used in conjunction with sutures and suture anchors for improved stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If sutures are used to attach tendon to bone, then the attachment method is simple and easy to perform, but the fixation strength is insufficient and gap formation occurs at the interface
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the attachment function into two distinct components: recurved tines that penetrate and grip the soft tissue (tendon) and a base that interfaces with the hard tissue (bone). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the tines providing secure soft tissue grasping and the base providing stable bone anchoring, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and fixation strength
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs a composite structure combining elements suitable for soft tissue interaction (recurved tines) with elements suitable for hard tissue interaction (base with bone interface surface). This composite design enables the device to simultaneously achieve strong fixation in both soft and hard tissues, overcoming the limitation of using a single attachment method
2Device complexity
If sutures are used for tendon-to-bone repair, then the surgical procedure is straightforward, but rupture occurs at the interface due to stress concentration
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the fixation function into separate components (tines for soft tissue, base for hard tissue), the device eliminates stress concentration at a single interface. The tines distribute loads across multiple penetration points in the tendon while the base provides a stable anchoring surface on the bone, thereby improving repair reliability without significantly increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The device acts as an intermediary structure between the tendon and bone, with the tines serving as the interface with soft tissue and the base serving as the interface with hard tissue. This intermediary design prevents direct stress transmission between tendon and bone that causes rupture, while maintaining relative surgical simplicity
3Device complexity
If a single attachment point is used, then the device structure is simple, but stress is concentrated at one location leading to failure
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the attachment interface into multiple discrete points: multiple recurved tines penetrating the soft tissue at different locations and a base contacting the hard tissue across a distributed surface. This segmentation of the attachment points distributes mechanical stresses across multiple locations, preventing stress concentration while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from a single-point attachment to a multi-point three-dimensional attachment structure. The recurved tines are arranged in a spatial configuration that distributes loads across multiple dimensions, with tines positioned at different depths and locations, thereby improving stress distribution without proportionally increasing structural complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods for joining a first and second tissue in a patient are disclosed that include a base with opposed first and second surfaces, and a plurality of recurved tines oriented to a tine axis and extending from the first surface of the base. The base defines four suture holes extending through the first and second surfaces of the base and configured to receive at least one suture passing between the first and second surfaces of the base. The plurality of recurved tines provides unidirectional traction of the first tissue along the tine axis toward the first surface to secure the device to the first tissue. The device is secured to the second tissue at the second surface with the at least one suture secured to at least one anchor secured to the second tissue.