Suture Anchor With Threaded Plug And Inflatable Cannula
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional suture anchors require knotting, which increases surgical time and introduces weak points for suture breakage, and surgical cannulas often lack multi-chambers and stability, leading to contamination and easy displacement during procedures.
Innovation Solution
A suture anchor design featuring a threaded plug and anchor combination for secure friction fit or screw-like engagement, and an inflatable cannula with separate chambers to prevent contamination and displacement, allowing for adjustable suture tensioning without knots and enhanced cannula stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional suture anchors require knotting to secure sutures, then the suture can be anchored to bone, but surgical time increases and weak points for suture breakage are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the knotting operation from the suture anchoring process by providing a suture anchor with a pre-formed suture loop that extends through the anchor body. The suture is permanently secured within the anchor during manufacturing, eliminating the need for intraoperative knotting while maintaining secure attachment to bone.
Solution Approach 2:
The suture is pre-threaded through the anchor body and the loop is pre-formed during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures the suture is ready for immediate use without requiring additional surgical steps for knotting, thereby reducing surgical time while ensuring reliable suture security.
2Reliability
If conventional suture anchors require knotting, then suture anchoring can be achieved, but knotting introduces weak points for suture breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the knotting step from the suture anchoring process. The suture is permanently secured within the anchor body through its design structure, eliminating the knot that creates a weak point. The suture passes through the anchor and forms a loop that is mechanically secured without requiring knots, thereby maintaining full suture strength.
3Ease of operation
If surgical cannulas have a single chamber, then instruments can be passed through, but cross-contamination and functional disturbance occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cannula into multiple separate chambers that are isolated from one another. Each chamber can independently accommodate surgical instruments or suture anchors without allowing contact between items in different chambers. This segmentation prevents cross-contamination while maintaining ease of instrument passage through the appropriate chamber.
4Device complexity
If surgical cannulas lack multi-chamber design, then structure remains simple, but displacement and falling into subject occur
Solution Approach 1:
The cannula is segmented into multiple separate chambers that are isolated from one another. Each chamber can independently accommodate surgical instruments or suture anchors without allowing contact between items in different chambers. This segmentation prevents cross-contamination while maintaining ease of instrument passage through the appropriate chamber.
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
The solution enables faster, secure, and adjustable suture anchoring without knots and reduces cannula displacement, improving surgical efficiency and stability during tissue fixation procedures.
Implementation Method 1
the outer wall of the plug comprises threads capable of engaging the inner surface of the anchor via a friction fit
Implementation Method 2
the plug is made of a compressible material
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument having an anchor and a plug is capable of anchoring a suture. The suture anchor has an anchor body having a top surface, a bottom surface distal to the top surface, a transverse bore and a well, the well having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an inner bottom surface. The plug has a post, a head, and a bottom face. The anchor body and the anchor plus form a suture anchor. The suture anchor may be used during surgical procedures and can be used in the re-tensioning of a suture.