Reinforced Graft Construct with Starter Loop for Tissue Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical constructs for tissue-to-bone repair lack sufficient pull strength and stability, leading to potential failure in reconstructive surgeries, especially when securing soft tissues to bone.
Innovation Solution
A reinforced tissue construct featuring a flexible strand with a starter loop and reinforcement material, such as suture tape, which is adjustable and knotless, providing increased pull strength by preventing suture pull-apart and enhancing tissue fixation through additional stitching and positioning over the tissue surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional suture constructs are used for tissue-to-bone repair, then the surgical procedure is simple, but the pull strength and stability are insufficient leading to potential failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite construction by combining multiple suture strands woven through a reinforcement material (such as tape or mesh) to create a reinforced construct. This composite structure integrates the tensile strength of sutures with the structural support of the reinforcement material, achieving superior pull strength and stability compared to conventional single-material sutures.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforced construct is divided into distinct functional segments: multiple suture strands for tensile loading, reinforcement material for structural support, and specific weaving patterns for load distribution. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its function while contributing to overall construct strength and stability.
2Reliability
If reinforcement material is added to increase pull strength, then the stability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the suture strands and reinforcement material into an integrated construct where the sutures are woven through or attached to the reinforcement material. This merging creates a unified structure that functions as a single stable unit, improving reliability while managing complexity through systematic integration rather than separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement material is strategically positioned at specific locations along the suture construct where additional strength and stability are needed, such as at the tissue-to-bone interface or at points of high stress concentration. This localized reinforcement optimizes stability while minimizing unnecessary complexity in regions where it is not required.
3Strength
If multiple stitches are conducted through reinforcement material and tissue, then the tissue fixation is enhanced, but the surgical time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement material is pre-attached or pre-positioned on the tissue before the suturing process begins. This preliminary action allows multiple stitches to be conducted through both the reinforcement and tissue simultaneously, rather than requiring separate attachment steps, thereby enhancing fixation strength while reducing overall surgical time.
Solution Approach 2:
The weaving or suturing technique creates continuous stitches that pass through both the reinforcement material and tissue in an unbroken sequence, maintaining continuous tension and fixation throughout the construct. This continuity ensures consistent tissue fixation strength while streamlining the surgical process by eliminating the need for multiple discrete attachment operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Surgical constructs, assemblies and methods for tissue reinforcement with a reinforcement (reinforcing) material such as suture, tape, weave, ribbon or mesh, among many others. The reinforced construct includes a reinforced section that prevents a suture from pulling apart. The reinforced section is be a piece of material (a reinforcement or reinforcing material) such as reinforced stitched suture tape attached to a flexible strand. A needle attached to the flexible strand terminating with the reinforced section passes through a proximal end of the reinforced section to form an adjustable “starter loop.” The starter loop is slid and positioned over tissue (for example, graft, tendon, ligament, etc.) and the suture is pulled apart to tighten the loop around the tissue.