Suture Anchor Positional Guide for Rotator Cuff Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for repairing partial thickness rotator cuff tears, such as PASTA lesions, often result in further tendon trauma and loss of existing attachment, as they require reattachment of the entire tendon or passing sutures through the tendon, causing additional damage.
Innovation Solution
A suture anchor kit and method that involves passing a positional guide through the tendon to position a suture anchor between the humeral head and tendon, driving the anchor into the bone, and passing sutures through the tendon to reattach it, minimizing tendon disruption and using a driver with a ratchet mechanism or powered rotational drive to secure the anchor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard suture anchor techniques are used to repair partial thickness rotator cuff tears, then the tendon can be reattached to the humeral head, but further tendon trauma is caused and existing attachment is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a positional guide as an intermediary device that facilitates suture anchor placement without requiring direct suture passage through the tendon. The guide needle creates a pilot hole and positions the suture anchor at the target site, allowing the tendon to be reattached without the trauma of multiple suture passes through the already injured tendon tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The suture anchor system is divided into separate components: a suture anchor, a positional guide needle, and a driver. This segmentation allows the positional guide to perform the function of precise placement without the suture itself needing to traverse the tendon multiple times, thereby reducing tendon trauma while maintaining reattachment reliability.
2Reliability
If the entire tendon is reattached using standard techniques, then the tear can be repaired, but the existing partial thickness attachment is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by targeting the suture anchor placement specifically at the tear site rather than reattaching the entire tendon. The positional guide enables precise localization of the anchor at the footprint site, preserving the intact portions of the tendon while repairing only the damaged area, thus maintaining existing attachment where possible.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing a complete tendon reattachment (excessive action), the patent uses a partial action approach by placing a single suture anchor at the specific tear location. This partial repair approach is sufficient to restore function while preserving the remaining healthy tendon attachment, avoiding the loss of existing partial thickness attachment.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a positional guide is used to position the suture anchor, then tendon disruption is minimized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positional guide needle serves multiple functions: it acts as a positioning tool to locate the target site, creates a pilot hole in the bone, and guides the suture anchor during insertion. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate devices, thereby minimizing tendon disruption without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the positioning and anchor insertion functions into a single integrated process using the positional guide. The guide needle and suture anchor work together as a coordinated system, where the guide facilitates precise anchor placement without requiring separate complex positioning apparatus, thus reducing tendon disruption while keeping device complexity manageable.
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
This approach allows for effective reattachment of the rotator cuff tendon with minimal tendon disruption, preserving the existing attachment and reducing trauma, thereby providing a more efficient and effective repair compared to standard techniques.
Implementation Method 1
driving the anchor into the bone
Implementation Method 2
using a driver with a ratchet mechanism or powered rotational drive to secure the anchor
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and system is provided for of attaching a rotator cuff tendon to its associated humeral head. The method includes the steps of passing a positional guide through the tendon toward the humeral head at a target site and positioning a suture anchor between the humeral head and the tendon at the target site by passing the suture anchor under the tendon. The suture anchor is driven into the humeral head and suture is passed from the suture anchor and through the tendon to attach the tendon to the humeral head at the target site.