All-Suture Anchor Inserts for Stronger Bone Hole Interlock
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suturing methods for reattaching soft tissues to bones, such as in hip, shoulder, and rotator cuff repairs, face challenges in providing secure and efficient anchoring, particularly in partial or complete tissue detachments.
Innovation Solution
A suturing system comprising a suture with anchor inserts that transition from a linear insertion configuration to a nonlinear deployed configuration, facilitated by a suture inserter device with a housing and inserter fork, allowing for enhanced anchoring by expanding to interlock within bone holes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional suture anchors are used for tissue reattachment, then the anchoring function is provided, but the pull-out strength and fixation security are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor is divided into multiple modular components: a suture body with multiple suture segments, multiple anchor inserts that can be independently positioned, and a suture inserter device. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while collectively providing enhanced pull-out strength and fixation security through distributed anchoring points within the bone hole.
2Ease of operation
If the anchor inserts are kept in linear configuration for insertion, then the insertion process is simplified, but the deployed configuration provides insufficient interlocking within bone holes
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor inserts are designed to dynamically change configuration from linear during insertion to nonlinear (expanded) after insertion. The suture inserter device facilitates this dynamic transformation by inserting the anchor in a compact linear state and then enabling it to expand into an interlocking nonlinear configuration that engages with the bone hole walls, providing both ease of insertion and strong fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor inserts are nested within each other or along the suture body in a compact linear arrangement during insertion, similar to nested dolls. After insertion into the bone hole, they expand outward to form an interlocking structure that engages with the bone walls, providing strong anchoring while maintaining a small insertion profile.
3Strength
If multiple anchor inserts are used to enhance fixation, then the pull-out strength is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suture body serves multiple functions: it acts as the structural core, provides the mechanism for inserting anchor inserts, enables configuration transformation, and provides the final anchoring function. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing device complexity while providing enhanced fixation strength through multiple anchor inserts.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are suturing systems, methods of anchoring to a bone, methods for anchoring a soft tissue to a bone, and methods of anchoring a first soft tissue portion to a second soft tissue portion. An exemplary suturing system includes an anchor and a suture inserter device. The anchor includes a plurality of anchor inserts coupled to a portion of the suture between a first end and second end of the anchor. The anchor has an insertion configuration that is substantially linear and a deployed configuration that is at least partially nonlinear. The suture inserter device includes a housing comprising a housing lumen and a housing shaft disposed therein, and an inserter fork coupled to the housing shaft. The housing shaft is axially translatable, and the inserter fork is axially translatable, via the housing shaft, between a distal position and a proximal position.