Surgical Locking Button for Graft and Suture Fixation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing graft fixation systems for tissue reconstruction surgeries, such as ACL and PCL reconstructions, often require separate fixation devices for grafts and reinforcement sutures, which can complicate the surgical procedure and reduce the stability of the graft.

Innovation Solution

A surgical locking button with a disk and barrel portion, cannulation, apertures for graft fixation, and internal locking barbs that secure a reinforcement suture relative to the bone, allowing for a single device to fixate both the graft and the reinforcement suture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate fixation devices are used for graft and reinforcement suture, then each component can be secured independently, but the surgical procedure becomes complicated and graft stability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegraft stabilityVSAvoidnumber of fixation devices

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the fixation of the graft and reinforcement suture into a single locking button device. The locking button includes a body with a first aperture for the graft and a second aperture for the reinforcement suture, allowing both components to be secured through one device rather than requiring separate fixation devices, thereby simplifying the surgical procedure while maintaining graft stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking button is designed as a multi-functional device that simultaneously performs multiple functions: it secures the graft through the first aperture, accommodates the reinforcement suture through the second aperture, and provides a common point of fixation for both components. This universal design eliminates the need for multiple specialized fixation devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If a single fixation device is used for both graft and reinforcement suture, then the surgical procedure is simplified, but the independent tensioning capability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical procedure simplicityVSAvoidindependent tensioning capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The locking button body is segmented into distinct apertures and pathways: a first aperture for graft passage and a second aperture for reinforcement suture passage. This segmentation allows each component to be tensioned independently through its own dedicated pathway while being secured by the same overall device, thus maintaining adaptability within the simplified single-device structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250107793A1Surgical locking buttons

Publication Date: 2025.04.03 ARTHREX INC

AI summary

Graft fixation systems and methods are provided for securing a graft within a bone tunnel. An exemplary graft fixation system may include a surgical locking button adapted for fixating both a graft and a reinforcement suture relative to bone.