Suture Anchor with Flexible Loop Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suture anchor technologies face challenges in providing effective pull-out resistance and minimizing tissue trauma during the reattachment of soft tissue to hard tissue, particularly in procedures like arthroscopic shoulder surgery and small joint repairs.
Innovation Solution
A suture anchor with a cylindrically stepped configuration and a suture-engaging structure formed by suture material, which includes a continuous loop that secures working sutures, is used in conjunction with an inserter device to facilitate secure attachment and minimize trauma by providing improved pull-out resistance and a smaller profile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional suture anchors with rigid integral eyelets or transverse pins are used, then the anchor provides stable suture engagement, but the anchor profile is larger and causes more tissue trauma
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible suture loop instead of rigid integral eyelets or transverse pins. The suture loop is threaded through the anchor body and secured internally, creating a flexible engagement structure that reduces the anchor profile and minimizes tissue trauma while maintaining reliable suture attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The suture loop is nested within the anchor structure, with the loop passing through the anchor body and being secured internally. This nesting approach allows the suture engagement structure to be contained within the anchor profile, reducing overall size and tissue disruption.
2Reliability
If exteriorly threaded or ribbed anchors are used to provide pull-out resistance, then the anchor stability is improved, but the anchor complexity and insertion difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the anchor body by incorporating cylindrically stepped sections with varying diameters. These stepped configurations provide enhanced pull-out resistance through geometric interlocking with the bone tunnel while maintaining a relatively simple cylindrical overall shape that facilitates insertion.
3Ease of operation
If a continuous suture loop is used to engage working sutures, then the suture attachment is simplified, but the risk of suture material failure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suture loop is pre-formed and secured to the anchor body before the working sutures are attached. This preliminary configuration allows the working sutures to be simply looped through the pre-positioned suture loop, simplifying the attachment process while distributing loads across the pre-tensioned suture loop structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs high-strength suture materials with appropriate mechanical properties to construct the suture loop. The selection of suture material with optimized tensile strength, elasticity, and wear resistance compensates for the potential weakness of the loop configuration, ensuring reliable performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A suture anchor and inserter arrangement, including a suture anchor for implanting in hard tissue, such as bone, and an inserter device for installing the suture anchor in hard tissue. The suture anchor carries thereon a suture-engaging structure formed from suture, which structure cooperates with working suture associated with the inserter device so as to attach the working suture to the suture anchor.