Soft Tissue Anchor With Formed Legs For Bone Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tendon repair methods face high failure rates due to overloading at the repair site, leading to adhesion formation, gap formation, and tendon rupture, primarily because they lack sufficient strength and stability during rehabilitation, especially when complex suture patterns are used for attaching soft tissue to bone.
Innovation Solution
A repair device system that includes a delivery device with an anchor having four legs that move from a linear to a formed position to securely couple soft tissue to bone, utilizing a capture member and flexible members to distribute load and prevent gapping, allowing for controlled elongation and enhanced healing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If complex suture patterns are used to attach soft tissue to bone, then initial repair strength is improved, but device complexity and surgical time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex suture patterns with a mechanical anchor device that has legs which can be formed into different configurations. The anchor device provides structural strength through its mechanical design rather than relying on complex suturing techniques, thereby reducing surgical complexity while maintaining repair strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor device allows for parameter changes in the form of the legs, which can be formed into various configurations depending on the specific soft tissue and bone attachment requirements. This provides versatility without requiring multiple different devices or complex surgical techniques.
2Strength
If passive motion is restricted to protect the repair site, then repair strength is maintained, but rehabilitation progress and tendon function restoration are delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor device is designed to be dynamic rather than static, allowing for controlled motion and load distribution during rehabilitation. The device can accommodate physiological movements while maintaining attachment strength, enabling earlier and more aggressive rehabilitation protocols compared to traditional rigid fixation methods.
3Reliability
If early motion rehabilitation is initiated to prevent adhesion, then tendon function is improved, but repair site failure risk increases due to overloading
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor device provides beforehand cushioning by distributing loads away from the vulnerable repair site during early rehabilitation. The design protects the healing tendon from excessive forces that would cause failure while still allowing beneficial motion to prevent adhesion formation.
4Shape
If traditional suture methods are used for tendon repair, then initial tendon alignment is achieved, but adhesion formation and gliding resistance occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional suture-based tendon repair with a mechanical anchor system that attaches tendon to bone. This substitution eliminates the need for complex suturing that causes tissue reaction and adhesion formation, while still achieving proper tendon alignment through the mechanical action of the anchor device.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems and/or methods for repairing soft tissue adjacent a soft tissue repair site. In one embodiment, a repair device configured to couple to soft tissue is provided. The repair device includes a capture portion and an anchor portion. The capture portion configured to extend with radial portions. The anchor portion includes a base with multiple legs extending therefrom. The multiple legs are configured to move from a linear position to a formed position such that, in the formed position, the multiple legs couple to structure of the capture portion.