Segmented Suture Anchor for Partial Thickness Rotator Cuff Repair
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for repairing partial thickness rotator cuff tears, such as PASTA lesions, often result in significant trauma to the tendon and loss of existing attachment, as they require reattaching the entire tendon or creating an incision for standard suture anchors.
Innovation Solution
A suture anchor with an elongated body and axially oriented bore, featuring a screw thread and suture passages, is designed for minimal trauma insertion and secure anchoring in the humerus, allowing for partial thickness rotator cuff repair with reduced stress on the tendon, using bioabsorbable or titanium materials and a method involving multiple suture anchors and sutures to hold the tendon in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard suture anchor is inserted through an incision in the tendon, then secure anchoring is achieved, but significant trauma is caused to the tendon
Solution Approach 1:
The suture anchor body is segmented with a through-bore that allows the tendon to pass through it, rather than requiring an incision. The tendon is divided into segments that pass through the anchor body, maintaining continuity while enabling secure fixation without traumatic incision.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of creating an incision in the tendon and passing the anchor through it (traditional method), the invention inverts the approach by having the tendon pass through the anchor body itself. This reverses the sequence of trauma and fixation, eliminating the need for traumatic incision while maintaining secure anchoring.
2Reliability
If the entire tendon is reattached using standard full thickness repair techniques, then the tear is repaired, but the existing attachment is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The suture anchor is designed to engage only the detached portion of the tendon (partial thickness) rather than requiring reattachment of the entire tendon. The anchor body provides sufficient fixation for the partial thickness lesion without necessitating complete tendon detachment and reattachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The suture anchor applies fixation locally at the site of the partial thickness tear, rather than requiring global reattachment of the entire tendon. The through-bore design allows the tendon to maintain its natural attachment elsewhere while providing localized repair where needed.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a small diameter suture anchor is used to minimize tissue disruption, then tissue trauma is reduced, but pullout resistance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The suture anchor employs a composite construction combining a biocompatible polymer body with a metal (titanium or stainless steel) suture bridge. This composite structure allows the small polymer body to minimize tissue disruption while the high-strength metal bridge provides sufficient pullout resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameters of the anchor components - using a small diameter polymer body for minimal tissue disruption while incorporating a high-strength metal suture bridge to maintain adequate pullout resistance despite the reduced overall size.
Data Source
AI summary
A suture anchor is disclosed which has an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end and an exterior surface. An axially oriented bore extends into the body from the proximal end and a proximal portion of the bore has a plurality of abutment surfaces for engaging a tool. The bore includes one or more axially oriented suture passages leading to a suture attachment within the bore. A length of suture extends into the at least one suture passage from the body proximal end and extends to the suture attachment. A screw thread spirals about a portion of the exterior surface of the body adjacent the at least one suture passage. Between the bore and the exterior surface of the body the body has a wall thickness and wherein the suture passage comprises the area where the wall thickness goes to zero.