Spring Ligament Scaffold with Toggle Anchors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Injuries to the spring ligament in the foot often go undiagnosed until complications like flat-foot deformities arise, necessitating a method for effective repair or augmentation to prevent further afflictions.
Innovation Solution
A synthetic scaffold made of polyester or polyethylene, combined with suture anchoring systems like the Juggerknot™ or ToggleLoc™, is used to replace or augment the spring ligament, providing a resilient construct that can be tensioned and anchored to bone structures for stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a synthetic scaffold is used to replace or augment the spring ligament, then the reliability of ligament function is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for specialized anchoring and tensioning systems
Solution Approach 1:
The ligament replacement system is divided into distinct functional components: the synthetic scaffold (ligament augment) and the anchoring system (suture anchors with tensioning members). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the scaffold for ligamentous function and the anchors for secure fixation - thereby improving overall reliability while managing complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
Suture anchors act as intermediary elements that bridge the synthetic scaffold and the bone structures. These anchors provide a reliable connection point that transfers load between the ligament augment and the bone, enabling secure fixation without requiring direct suture passage through bone tunnels, thus simplifying the overall device architecture
2Stability of the object's composition
If suture anchors and tensioning systems are used to fix the ligament augment, then the stability of the construct is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the multi-step anchoring process
Solution Approach 1:
The suture anchors are pre-formed and ready for implantation, with the tensioning members already attached. This preliminary preparation allows the surgeon to quickly deploy the anchoring system without needing to tie complex knots or perform intricate suturing procedures during surgery, thereby maintaining high stability while improving ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
Traditional ligament fixation methods relying on complex knot-tying and suture passage are replaced with a simplified mechanical anchoring system. The suture anchors with integrated tensioning members provide a more straightforward mechanism for securing the ligament augment, reducing the technical skill required and decreasing surgical time while maintaining construct stability
3Strength
If the scaffold is tensioned and anchored to bone structures, then the strength of the ligament replacement is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases due to the need for precise tensioning control
Solution Approach 1:
The tensioning members provide visual and tactile feedback to the surgeon during the tensioning process. As the scaffold is tensioned, the surgeon can observe the tightening of the suture and feel the resistance, allowing for intuitive control of the tensioning force. This feedback mechanism enables precise tensioning control without requiring complex measurement instruments, thereby achieving high strength while managing the difficulty of detection and measurement
Data Source
AI summary
A construct is disclosed that may be used to repair or replace a natural ligament. The construct may be formed of materials for biocompatibility and/or resorbtion. The construct may be provided or connected to a soft anchor for connection to a bone portion.