Soft Tissue Anchor Slider for Low-Injury Sequential Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing soft tissue repair devices for suturing are not sufficiently efficient in deploying and securing anchors without causing additional tissue damage and require complex manipulation during the repair process.
Innovation Solution
A soft tissue repair device with a housing, deployment system, and insertion system that includes a slider and actuation member, allowing for the deployment of flexible anchors through a non-penetrative method using a flexible strand to secure the anchors in soft tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional suturing devices are used for soft tissue repair, then the repair function is achieved, but the tissue damage is increased and the repair process is complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the repair function into distinct components: an insertion system for delivering anchors and a deployment system for securing them. The slider mechanism further segments the deployment process, allowing sequential deployment of multiple anchors through a single integrated device, thereby reducing overall procedural complexity while minimizing tissue damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchors are pre-loaded onto the slider in a ready-to-deploy configuration before insertion into the tissue. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex in-situ anchor attachment procedures, simplifying the repair process and reducing the time the tissue is exposed to invasive instruments.
2Reliability
If multiple anchors are deployed sequentially using traditional methods, then secure anchoring is achieved, but the time required for deployment increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple anchors are combined on a single slider mechanism, allowing sequential deployment of multiple anchors through one integrated device rather than multiple separate insertion procedures. The slider's movement simultaneously advances each anchor to its deployment position, maintaining reliable anchoring while significantly reducing total deployment time.
Solution Approach 2:
The slider mechanism enables continuous deployment action throughout the insertion process. As the slider moves distally, it continuously advances each anchor along its delivery path and deploys them in sequence without interruption, eliminating idle time between anchor deployments and maintaining continuous useful action throughout the procedure.
3Strength
If deep penetration is used to secure anchors in soft tissue, then anchoring strength is improved, but tissue damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anchors are designed with localized engagement features that concentrate anchoring force at specific points within the tissue rather than requiring deep penetration throughout. The slider mechanism positions each anchor to engage locally at optimal locations, providing sufficient anchoring strength while limiting the volume of tissue affected and minimizing overall tissue damage.
Data Source
AI summary
A soft tissue repair device can include a housing having a handle, a deployment system having an actuation member, and an insertion system having an inserter and a slider. The slider can be coupled to the actuation member and movable relative to the inserter between deployed and retracted positions. First and second anchors can be carried on an external surface of the slider such that the anchors are spaced apart and portions of the anchors are coaxial with the slider and each other. A flexible strand can couple the anchors. The insertion system can cooperate with the deployment system to move the slider to the deployed position to deploy the first anchor upon activating the actuation member a first time, and to move the slider to the deployed position from the retracted position to deploy the second anchor upon actuating the actuation member a second time after the first time.