Suture Anchor With Microthreads And Integrated Needle Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for attaching soft tissue to bone require multiple steps and instruments, increasing operating time and infection risk, and are not sufficiently invasive.
Innovation Solution
A suture anchor with microthreads and a driver system that includes a needle attachment, allowing for a single surgical entry point and reduced steps by using a push or pull style engagement structure to secure sutures directly to the anchor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional suture attachment methods using external instruments (lasso, grasper) are used, then sutures can be passed through soft tissue, but the number of surgical steps increases and operating time extends
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the suture passage function with the suture anchor itself by integrating a needle directly into the anchor body. This eliminates the need for separate external instruments (lasso, grasper) to pass sutures through tissue, merging multiple functions into a single integrated device that reduces surgical steps and operating time while maintaining reliable suture passage capability
Solution Approach 2:
The suture anchor is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the fixation device and as the suture passage device through its integrated needle. This universal design allows the same device to perform multiple functions (anchoring and suture passage) that traditionally required separate instruments, thereby reducing the number of surgical steps without compromising reliability
2Reliability
If multiple external instruments are used to pass suture through tissue, then suture can be secured, but the number of surgical entry points and infection risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the suture passage function into the suture anchor itself via an integrated needle, the patent eliminates the need for multiple external instruments and surgical entry points. This single-integration approach maintains reliable suture fixation while reducing the number of times the surgical site must be accessed, thereby lowering infection risk
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the suture passage function from external instruments and relocates it directly into the suture anchor body. This extraction of the function from separate instruments and its integration into the anchor itself eliminates the need for multiple instrument insertions, reducing infection risk while preserving secure suture fixation
3Reliability
If traditional multi-step suture anchoring procedures are used, then soft tissue can be attached to bone, but the surgical complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple surgical steps into a single integrated device and procedure. The suture anchor with integrated needle combines the anchoring function and suture passage function, allowing both tasks to be accomplished in one surgical action rather than requiring separate instruments and multiple steps, thereby reducing surgical complexity while maintaining reliable soft tissue fixation
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-functional suture anchor serves as both the fixation device and the suture delivery device. This universal design eliminates the need for multiple specialized instruments and steps, reducing surgical complexity while ensuring reliable soft tissue to bone attachment through the integrated system
Data Source
AI summary
A suture anchor is described. The suture anchor includes an elongate anchor body having a proximal end and a distal end, at least one suture secured within the anchor body, at least one major thread, and at least two microthreads occupying the space between each major thread. An anchor driver is also described. The anchor driver is capable of accepting various attachments such that an operator can change the functionality of the driver based on the type of attachment in use, such as a needle attachment. A method of attaching soft tissue to bone in a subject is also described. The method includes the steps of securing a suture anchor into bone with the anchor driver, joining a needle attachment with the anchor driver, passing at least one suture through soft tissue using the needle attachment, and tying the at least one suture against the soft tissue to secure the soft tissue to the bone.