Segmented Suture Anchor With Threaded Bone Fixation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical devices for attaching soft tissue to bone, such as suture anchors, face challenges in providing sufficient coupling strength, durability, and positional adjustability, limiting their effectiveness in various surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
The development of an anchor device with a stopper portion and fixing portion, featuring threaded, barbed, or vaned external surfaces, and detent mechanisms, which secure a suture loop to bone, ensuring robust and adjustable attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional suture anchors are used to couple soft tissue to bone, then the basic attachment function is achieved, but the coupling strength with bone substrate matrix is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor device is divided into multiple functional segments: a stopper portion for positioning, a fixing portion with threaded features for bone engagement, and a suture loop for soft tissue attachment. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, thereby improving overall coupling strength and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor device utilizes composite construction with a stopper portion made of one material and a fixing portion made of another material, each selected for its specific mechanical properties. This composite approach enables the device to achieve both strong bone coupling and reliable soft tissue attachment.
2Reliability
If conventional suture anchors are used, then soft tissue attachment is achieved, but the durability with respect to suture material is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The suture loop is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to be adjusted and repositioned during the surgical procedure before final fixation. This dynamic design enables optimization of the suture configuration to ensure long-term durability and reliability of the attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The suture loop is pre-formed and positioned within the anchor structure before the anchor is implanted into the bone. This preliminary configuration ensures that the suture material is already in the optimal position and orientation to achieve durable and reliable attachment.
3Ease of operation
If conventional suture anchors are used, then basic positioning is achieved, but the positional adjustability of the suture material is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The suture loop is designed to be movable and adjustable within the anchor structure, allowing the surgeon to reposition the suture material to achieve the desired anatomical configuration. This dynamic adjustability is achieved through a relatively simple mechanism that does not significantly increase device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation of the stopper portion and fixing portion allows the suture loop to be independently adjusted and positioned. The stopper portion provides a stable reference point while the fixing portion can be manipulated to achieve the desired suture configuration, simplifying the adjustment process.
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 anchor device provides enhanced coupling strength, durability, and positional adjustability, facilitating effective surgical attachment of soft tissue to bone.
Implementation Method 1
the fixing portion includes a threaded feature on an external surface thereof
Implementation Method 2
a fixing portion includes a barbed feature on an external surface thereof
Data Source
AI summary
An anchor device and system for coupling soft tissue to osseous tissue includes a stopper member that supports a loop of suture material. A fixing member includes features that allow it to be rigidly coupled to surrounding bone and thus hold the stopper member in a cavity within the bone. The loop of suture material, in turn, supports a second suture device, which is coupled to, and thus retains, the soft tissue. In certain embodiments, the fixing member includes a wadding structure having a generally elastic property.