Soft Tissue Repair Device Sequential Anchor Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current soft tissue repair devices for suturing are limited in effectively deploying and securing flexible anchors to repair tears in soft tissues like cartilage, ligament, or muscle, particularly in minimizing tissue penetration and injury 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 first and second flexible anchors via a flexible strand, which are positioned on the external surface of the slider and deployed sequentially to secure the tissue without penetrating it, using a pistol grip handle and cam mechanism for precise control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional suturing devices are used to repair soft tissue tears, then the repair function is achieved, but tissue penetration and injury occur during the process
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the anchor deployment process into distinct phases: the anchor is initially contained within a protective sheath during insertion, then deployed by advancing the slider relative to the inserter. This segmentation allows the anchor to be delivered without penetrating the tissue, reducing tissue injury while maintaining deployment control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a flexible strand as an intermediary element that couples the first and second anchors. This flexible strand allows the anchors to be deployed and tensioned without requiring direct penetration of the tissue by rigid suturing instruments, thereby reducing tissue injury while achieving the repair function.
2Strength
If multiple anchors are deployed simultaneously, then the repair strength is improved, but the device complexity and control difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs a dynamic slider mechanism that can be advanced relative to the inserter to deploy multiple anchors in sequence. The slider's movement is controlled by the operator, allowing flexible deployment timing - anchors can be deployed simultaneously or sequentially based on surgical needs, maintaining repair strength while simplifying control.
Solution Approach 2:
The first and second anchors are pre-positioned on the slider in a ready-to-deploy configuration before insertion. This preliminary positioning allows for rapid deployment of multiple anchors without requiring complex real-time manipulation, reducing device complexity while ensuring adequate repair strength through multiple anchor points.
3Ease of operation
If the anchor deployment mechanism is simplified, then the ease of operation is improved, but the precision and control of deployment are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical deployment mechanisms with a simpler slider-actuation system. The slider is advanced relative to the inserter through direct mechanical action, providing intuitive ease of operation. Precision is maintained through the geometric relationship between the slider and inserter, which ensures accurate anchor positioning and deployment timing.
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.