Suture Anchor Device with Moveable Member for Soft Tissue Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing soft tissue fixation methods require a multi-step process for connecting sutures to anchors, which can be challenging due to maintaining tension, often necessitating repetition if tension is not adequate, and involve additional steps like knotting or complex connection procedures.
Innovation Solution
A suture anchor device with a moveable inner member and expandable body that allows sutures to be passed through and connected with minimal tension change, potentially cutting the sutures during deployment, reducing the number of surgical steps and ensuring consistent tension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional multi-step suture connection process is used, then suture can be connected to anchor, but the process is complex and time-consuming requiring multiple steps including knotting while maintaining tension
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate surgical steps into a single integrated deployment action. The suture passage, tension maintenance, and anchor deployment are merged into one simultaneous process where the suture is pulled through the anchor body as the anchor deploys from the delivery device, eliminating the need for separate knotting steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The suture is pre-positioned and tensioned before anchor deployment. The delivery device holds the suture under desired tension during the entire deployment process, and the suture passage through the anchor occurs automatically as part of the deployment mechanism, preparing everything in advance so no additional steps are needed after deployment.
2Reliability
If suture tension is not adequately maintained during connection, then connection may fail, but maintaining proper tension throughout the multi-step process is difficult and may require repetition
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery device provides continuous mechanical feedback and constraint on the suture throughout deployment. The suture is held in a constrained path within the delivery device that maintains constant tension, and the deployment mechanism itself provides feedback by controlling the timing and manner of suture passage through the anchor, ensuring tension is never lost.
Solution Approach 2:
The deployment mechanism automatically maintains suture tension through its own structural design. As the anchor deploys from the delivery device, the suture is pulled through the anchor body by the deployment motion itself, and the delivery device structure continuously applies and maintains the desired tension without requiring external intervention or monitoring.
3Ease of operation
If traditional anchor deployment is used, then anchor can be inserted into bone, but additional steps are required for suture connection after deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges anchor deployment and suture connection into a single simultaneous operation. As the anchor is deployed from the delivery device, the suture automatically passes through the anchor body through an internal passage, combining what were traditionally separate steps into one integrated action that is both simpler and more efficient.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems and apparatuses for soft tissue repair including a device for anchoring sutured tissue to bone are disclosed. In one example, a device can include a body and a member. The body can have a wall with an outer surface thereof configured to engage the bone of a patient. The body can define an inner passage extending generally from a proximal end thereof to a distal end thereof. The body can have a slit formed by the wall, the slit extending at least a portion of a proximal-distal length of the wall. The member can be configured to be disposed within the body and can be moveable along the inner passage relative to the body between a first position and a second position. The member can be configured with a second passage to receive and pass a suture through the member when the member is in the first position.