Soft Anchor Tissue Repair Assembly Knotless Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orthopedic surgeries using rigid anchors for soft tissue attachment to bone face challenges such as the risk of hard devices migrating into joints, causing arthritis, and the complexity of knot-tying for securing soft flexible anchors.
Innovation Solution
A tissue repair system utilizing a soft anchor body that can be tubular with a lumen, coupled with an expansion suture and a locking suture, which allows for knotless deployment and locking by tensioning the sutures to change the anchor's configuration and secure it within a bone tunnel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid anchors are used for soft tissue attachment to bone, then the anchoring strength and stability are improved, but the risk of device migration into joints causing arthritis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a soft flexible anchor constructed from flexible materials such as braided sutures or flexible polymers that can deform elastically. This flexible construct allows the anchor to conform to the bone tunnel geometry while maintaining anchoring strength through elastic deformation rather than rigid structural integrity, thereby eliminating the risk of hard device migration into joints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in the physical state and configuration of the flexible anchor material. The anchor transitions from a compressed insertion state to an expanded deployed state through suture tensioning, and further transitions to a locked configuration through knot-tying. These parameter changes in material deformation and configuration enable the soft anchor to achieve rigid-like stability without the harmful rigidity of traditional anchors.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If soft flexible anchors are used to eliminate hard materials, then the risk of anatomical damage is reduced, but the complexity of knot-tying for securing the anchor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a self-locking mechanism where the flexible anchor construct is designed to secure itself through its own structural features. The braided or flexible polymer material is configured to interlock with itself or with guiding elements within the anchor body, eliminating the need for external knot-tying operations. This self-service locking approach reduces procedural complexity while maintaining the safety benefits of soft materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary elements such as guiding wires, retrieval wires, or pre-formed locking features that facilitate the securing process without requiring complex knot-tying skills. These intermediary components simplify the procedure by providing built-in locking mechanisms or guided deployment paths, reducing the skill level required while maintaining anchor security.
3Stability of the object's composition
If knot-tying is used to secure the soft flexible anchor, then the anchoring stability is improved, but the surgical time and expertise required increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates pre-formed locking features, pre-tyed knots, or pre-configured suture patterns that are prepared in advance during manufacturing. The anchor body may include pre-formed locking arms, pre-tied sutures, or pre-configured braided structures that automatically engage with bone or soft tissue upon deployment, eliminating the need for time-consuming intraoperative knot-tying while ensuring stable anchoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor construct is designed with self-locking capabilities that automatically engage without requiring surgical intervention for knot-tying. The flexible material configuration allows the anchor to secure itself through elastic deformation and interlocking features, significantly reducing surgical time while maintaining anchoring stability.
4Force
If traditional rigid anchors are used, then the anchoring force is sufficient, but the ease of operation and surgical simplicity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible anchor construct maintains sufficient anchoring force through elastic deformation and friction-based engagement rather than rigid mechanical interlocking. The soft material can be easily inserted through a bone tunnel and deployed through simple expansion mechanisms, making the procedure more straightforward while delivering adequate anchoring force for soft tissue repair.
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 system provides a large locking force for the soft anchor within bone, allows for knotless securing of the anchor and sutures, and reduces the risk of anatomical damage by using only soft materials.
Implementation Method 1
Tensioning of the first and second ends of the expansion suture cause the anchor body to change from a first configuration, in which the anchor body is elongate, to a second configuration, in which the anchor body is axially compressed and radially extended
Implementation Method 2
locking the suture and suture-anchor constructs may rely on increased friction and/or reducing lumen/opening sizes between a) sutures disposed within internal lumens of other sutures
Data Source
AI summary
A tissue repair assembly is disclosed, including a soft anchor body and at least a first suture operably coupled to the anchor body. Tensioning on first and/or second ends of first suture may deploy the anchor body to a second configuration, in which the anchor body is axially compressed and radially extended. The tissue repair assembly may also include a means to cinch around a portion of a first and/or second suture and knotlessly lock the tissue repair assembly. Some embodiments may include a pre-formed knot. In some embodiments, the preformed knot may be a nail knot, provided wrapped around an insertion instrument and configured to receive and cinch around a suture extending therethrough.