Soft Tissue Anchor with Flexible Members for Bone Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for fixing soft tissue to bone in orthopedic surgery are time-consuming and require complex suture patterns, leading to potential degradation of the repair with subsequent loading and mobilization, necessitating a more efficient and durable solution.
Innovation Solution
A medical device system comprising a bone anchor, a soft tissue anchor, and flexible members that facilitate simultaneous fixation of soft tissue to bone, eliminating the need for intricate sutures by maintaining a predetermined distance and clamping force, thereby enhancing the stability and longevity of the repair.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional suture methods are used to fixate soft tissue to bone, then the repair can be performed with existing techniques, but the surgical process becomes time-consuming and requires complex suture patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex suture tying process from the fixation procedure by using pre-configured suture loops that are already formed on the bone anchor. This allows the surgeon to simply pass the suture through the tissue and pull, eliminating the need for time-consuming knot tying while maintaining secure fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The suture loops are pre-formed on the bone anchor before surgery. This preliminary preparation of the suture configuration eliminates the need for complex intraoperative suture manipulation and knot tying, significantly reducing surgical time while ensuring proper tension distribution.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional suture methods are used to fixate soft tissue to bone, then existing surgical techniques can be utilized, but complex suture patterns are required that often require specialized surgeons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complexity of suture patterns from the surgical procedure by providing pre-formed loops on the bone anchor. This extraction of complexity allows any orthopedic surgeon to perform the procedure without requiring specialized suture skills, while still achieving reliable soft tissue fixation.
3Strength
If traditional suture methods are used to fixate soft tissue to bone, then initial repair can be achieved, but the strength and quality of the repair quickly degrade with subsequent loading and mobilization
Solution Approach 1:
The suture loops are pre-formed with optimal geometry and tension distribution before surgery. This preliminary configuration ensures that the soft tissue is evenly distributed and secured along the entire length of the tendon, preventing stress concentration and repair failure during subsequent loading and mobilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the suture configuration by using pre-formed loops with specific dimensions and spacing. This optimization of suture geometry distributes the load more evenly across the soft tissue repair, enhancing the durability and resistance to degradation under physiological loading conditions.
4Productivity
If simple fixation methods are used, then surgical time is reduced, but the fixation strength and reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the time-consuming elements (knot tying, complex suture manipulation) from the surgical process while retaining the essential fixation function. The pre-formed loops provide reliable soft tissue capture and tension distribution without requiring prolonged surgical manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
By pre-forming the suture loops on the bone anchor before surgery, the patent ensures that the critical tension distribution and soft tissue capture geometry are optimized in advance. This preliminary action maintains fixation reliability while enabling rapid deployment during surgery.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems and/or methods for fixating soft tissue to bone are provided. In one embodiment, a repair device for fixating soft tissue to bone with a bone anchor includes a soft tissue anchor and one or more flexible members. The soft tissue anchor includes a base with multiple legs extending from the base. The one or more flexible members are coupled to the base and configured to extend from the base to the bone anchor with a fixed length. With this arrangement, the fixed length of the one or more flexible members is configured to maintain a fixed distance between the soft tissue anchor and the bone anchor such that, as the bone anchor is seated into bone, the one or more flexible members pulls the soft tissue anchor down against the soft tissue to fixate the soft tissue to the bone.