Sliding Knot Suture Loop for Arthroscopic Bone Anchoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for repairing torn or damaged tissue, especially in arthroscopic procedures, face challenges with knotting sutures due to the limited space, making the process tedious and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
The use of a suture with terminal ends coupled by a sliding knot that can be advanced to secure tissue to a bone anchor, facilitating the reattachment of soft tissue to bone through a system involving engagement members and a bone anchor, which can be implanted in a bone hole, allowing for tensioning and secure anchoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional knotting methods are used in arthroscopic procedures, then secure suture anchoring is achieved, but the process becomes tedious and time-consuming due to limited working space
Solution Approach 1:
The suture is pre-formed with a loop and engagement member attached before the surgical procedure. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex intraoperative knotting, allowing the surgeon to simply advance the pre-configured suture through the tissue and secure it to the bone anchor, significantly reducing procedure time while maintaining anchoring security
Solution Approach 2:
An engagement member is introduced as an intermediary component between the suture and the bone anchor. This engagement member facilitates easier coupling and secures the suture to the bone anchor without requiring traditional knotting techniques, resolving the contradiction between secure anchoring and time efficiency
2Ease of operation
If complex knotting procedures are performed through small diameter cannulas, then tissue reattachment is achieved, but the operation becomes difficult and tedious
Solution Approach 1:
The suture configuration with loop and engagement member is prepared in advance outside the body, transforming a complex intraoperative knotting task into a simple advancement and coupling procedure. This preliminary action makes the operation much easier while the engagement member ensures reliable tissue reattachment security
Solution Approach 2:
The complex knotting operation is extracted from the surgical procedure and replaced with a simpler mechanism. The engagement member takes out the need for manual knotting by providing an alternative coupling mechanism that can be easily manipulated through the cannula while maintaining reattachment security
3Productivity
If traditional suture methods are used, then tissue repair is achieved, but the procedure lacks efficiency and requires complex manual manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The suture system is pre-configured with the loop and engagement member before surgery, transferring complexity from the surgical procedure to the device design. This improves productivity by eliminating time-consuming manual manipulation during surgery, while the device complexity is managed through standardized manufacturing of the pre-formed suture assembly
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods for anchoring tissue to bone are provided herein. In various embodiments, the tissue anchor systems and methods can provide a length of suture having terminal ends coupled to one another via a sliding knot so as to define a suture loop having an adjustable length. After passing a portion of the suture loop through a damaged tissue and coupling the suture loop to bone, the sliding knot can be advanced to shorten the suture loop in order to secure the tissue to bone.