Soft Tissue Anchor Cavity Structure for Suture-Safe Bone Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tissue anchors often cause damage to sutures or grafts during insertion due to friction or stress, especially when using threaded anchors, making it difficult to secure components in bone tunnels without laceration or harm.
Innovation Solution
An anchoring system with a detachable inserter and an anchor featuring a cutout, anti-backout teeth, and a stop mechanism to prevent proximal movement, allowing for secure insertion and detachment without damaging the suture or graft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a threaded anchor is used to secure sutures or grafts in bone tunnels, then the anchor can be firmly fixed in the bone, but the suture or graft is likely to be lacerated, crushed, or twisted during insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protective cavity or channel within the anchor body that serves as an intermediary space for the suture or graft. This protective structure acts as a mediator between the anchor's fixation function and the suture's protection need, allowing the suture to pass through a protected path that prevents direct contact with bone edges and reduces friction during insertion
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor is divided into functional segments: a fixation portion that engages with bone tissue and a protective cavity portion that houses and protects the suture or graft. This segmentation allows the different functions (fixation and protection) to be performed in separate zones without interfering with each other
2Ease of operation
If conventional insertion techniques are used, then the anchor can be inserted into the bone tunnel, but it is difficult to avoid damaging the suture, graft, or other component
Solution Approach 1:
The suture or graft is pre-positioned within the protective cavity of the anchor before insertion into the bone tunnel. This preliminary action ensures that the protective structure is already in place to shield the component during the insertion process, eliminating the need for complex maneuvering to avoid damage
3Strength
If the anchor is designed to fit tightly in the bone tunnel for secure fixation, then the anchor resists pullout forces, but the insertion becomes more difficult without causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor features localized protection structures such as a protective cavity with specific geometry designed to minimize friction against the suture or graft in the region where the component passes through, while maintaining tight engagement with the bone tunnel walls in the fixation regions. This local differentiation of properties allows simultaneous optimization of fixation strength and component protection
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention include an anchoring system (1) and method of inserting an anchor (100). Suture (305) and graft (550) may be implanted with anchors (100) of some embodiments. Some anchor embodiments may include at least one side that is cut away (115) to provide a protected space, such as central portion (116), for suture (305) and graft (550) and may provide a connection mechanism, such as a connector hole (107), that may be pushed or pulled by an inserter (200) of the anchoring system (1).