Suture Anchor Compression Fixation for Knotless Bone Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current suture anchors require knots for secure attachment, which can be cumbersome and may fail under tension, necessitating improved knotless solutions for surgical transosseous attachment.

Innovation Solution

A knotless suture anchor system featuring an anchor body with a longitudinal passageway and an interference member that secures the suture by compression, utilizing a frangible connection and a driver mechanism to insert and detach the interference member.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If knots are used for suture attachment, then secure attachment is achieved, but the procedure becomes cumbersome and reliability decreases under tension

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment reliabilityVSAvoidsurgical procedure ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the knot element from the suture attachment system entirely. Instead of using knots to secure the suture, the invention employs a knotless anchor body with a compression mechanism that directly secures the suture within its longitudinal passageway, eliminating the need for knot tying while maintaining secure attachment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical knot-tying system with a compression-based securing mechanism. The interference member compresses the suture against the anchor body walls, creating friction and mechanical interlocking that substitutes for the knot function, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Strength

If knots are used for suture attachment, then secure attachment is achieved, but the attachment may fail under tension

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidattachment reliability under tension

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the attachment system by transitioning from a knot-based system to a compression-based system. The interference member applies continuous compressive force to the suture, maintaining optimal friction and contact pressure parameters that prevent slippage under tension, thereby improving both strength and reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates a compression mechanism that applies pre-load force to the suture before tension is applied during use. This beforehand cushioning ensures the suture is already secured with adequate friction and contact pressure, preventing sudden failure when tension is applied to the attachment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Ease of operation

If a frangible connection is used to join the proximal member to the anchor body, then the interference member can be inserted and detached, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterference member installation and removalVSAvoidanchor system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the anchor system into separable components: an anchor body, a proximal member, and an interference member. The frangible connection creates a deliberate weak point between the proximal member and anchor body, allowing the interference member to be inserted through the proximal member and then detached by breaking the frangible connection, facilitating easy installation and removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The frangible connection acts as an intermediary element between the proximal member and anchor body. It provides a controlled failure point that allows the interference member to be inserted and then released, serving as a mediator that enables the installation and removal process while adding minimal complexity to the overall system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Facilitates secure and efficient attachment of sutures to bone without knots, ensuring stability under tension and simplifying the surgical process.

Implementation Method 1

an interference member insertable distally into the longitudinal passageway to secure a portion of a suture within the longitudinal passageway by compressing the portion of the suture between the interference member and the anchor body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentUS12383253B2Suture anchor

Publication Date: 2025.08.12 CROSSROADS EXTREMITY SYSTEMS LLC

AI summary

A knotless suture anchor system is disclosed for improved anchoring in tissue. The knotless suture anchor system includes an anchor body having an exterior surface, a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends, an interior longitudinal passageway extending at least partway from the proximal end toward the distal end, a proximal opening communicating with the longitudinal passageway nearer the proximal end, and a distal opening communicating with the longitudinal passageway nearer the distal end. The knotless suture anchor system also includes an interference member insertable distally into the longitudinal passageway to secure a portion of a suture within the longitudinal passageway by compressing the portion of the suture between the interference member and the anchor body, and a frangible connection that joins a proximal member to the anchor body.