Reinforced Surgical Anchors for Refixation in Existing Bone Holes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical anchors often fail to achieve secure fixation in soft tissue or bone, particularly in cases where initial attempts result in the anchor pulling out, leading to the need for discarding the anchor and starting over, which complicates tissue repair procedures.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a reinforcement device with the anchor, such as a sheath, sleeve, or coupler, allows for reinsertion and secure fixation of the anchor in the original hole, preventing discard and enhancing fixation through various materials like suture, silk, or biocompatible plastics, enabling knotless and tensionable repairs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard surgical anchor is used for tissue fixation, then the procedure is simple, but the anchor may pull out and fail to achieve secure fixation
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement device is nested within or around the anchor structure, with the reinforcement device comprising a sheath or sleeve that receives the anchor. This nested configuration allows the reinforcement to be integrated with the anchor while maintaining a compact overall structure that can be inserted through the same delivery system.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement device is made from materials different from the anchor, such as shape memory alloys, superelastic materials, or biocompatible polymers. This composite material approach allows the reinforcement to provide enhanced mechanical properties and fixation security while the anchor provides its primary anchoring function.
2Productivity
If an anchor pulls out during initial fixation attempts, then the anchor must be discarded and the procedure restarted, but this wastes time and complicates the procedure
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement device is pre-integrated with the anchor before the fixation attempt, providing a backup mechanism in advance. If the initial fixation fails and the anchor pulls out, the reinforcement device remains in place and can engage with the tissue to maintain fixation, cushioning against the failure of the primary anchor.
Solution Approach 2:
While the anchor may be discarded after pullout, the reinforcement device is designed to remain in the tissue and recover the fixation function. The reinforcement device can be engaged independently or with a new anchor, allowing the surgical procedure to continue without complete restart and improving overall procedure efficiency.
3Reliability
If a reinforcement device is integrated with the anchor, then fixation security is improved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement device is designed to perform multiple functions: it can provide backup fixation if the anchor pulls out, it can engage with the tissue independently, and it can work with both initial and reinserted anchors. This multi-functionality justifies the increased structural complexity by providing multiple mechanisms for achieving secure fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The overall fixation construct is segmented into distinct functional components: the anchor for primary anchoring and the reinforcement device for backup and enhanced fixation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system reliability, making the complexity manageable and beneficial.
Data Source
AI summary
Reinforced surgical constructs and methods of reinforced anchor fixation in bone, as well as associated surgical repairs are disclosed. A reinforcement (anchoring device) is loaded onto a fixation device. The fixation device can be a knotless fixation device such as a hard-body anchor, or a knotless soft anchor such as an all-suture knotless anchor. The reinforcement can consist of an anchoring device that integrates with the fixation device, to improve and aid the fixation of the device into an existing tissue hole.