Suture Anchor with Deformable Prongs for Prostate Compression

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) are associated with high risks of adverse effects, require general or spinal anesthesia, and often result in prolonged recovery times, while minimally invasive procedures provide limited symptom relief and are prone to complications such as urinary incontinence and tissue obstruction.

Innovation Solution

A suture-based anchor assembly that includes a distal anchor and a proximal anchor, capable of being implanted through small incisions, using a delivery tool to compress the prostate gland and increase the urethral opening, reducing fluid obstruction without the need for hospitalization, utilizing Nitinol and stainless steel components for strength and biocompatibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional surgical treatments for BPH are performed, then effective symptom relief is achieved, but high risks of adverse effects and prolonged recovery occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesymptom relief effectivenessVSAvoidadverse effects and recovery time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment system is divided into multiple components: a compression device with inflatable chambers, an anchor assembly with suture, and a delivery tool. This segmentation allows the compression function to be separated from the implantation function, enabling office-based minimally invasive procedure with reduced recovery time while maintaining effective symptom relief

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A delivery tool serves as an intermediary device to implant the anchor assembly and compression device through small incisions. This intermediary enables minimally invasive access, reducing tissue damage and recovery time while maintaining the effectiveness of the compression treatment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If minimally invasive procedures are used, then recovery time is reduced, but limited symptom relief and complications occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecovery timeVSAvoidsymptom relief effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The anchor assembly is implanted and positioned beforehand to provide stable anchoring, then the compression device is activated to immediately compress the prostate gland. This preliminary anchoring action ensures that the compression force is effectively transmitted to the prostate tissue, achieving reliable symptom relief while maintaining the minimally invasive approach

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The compression device uses inflatable chambers that can be inflated to controlled pressure levels to compress the prostate gland. By adjusting the pressure parameter, the system achieves effective compression for symptom relief while avoiding excessive forces that could cause complications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If large incisions and open surgery are performed, then effective tissue access is achieved, but higher risk and longer recovery occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue access capabilityVSAvoidsurgical risk and recovery

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The anchor assembly is extracted as a separate implantable component that can be delivered through small incisions using the delivery tool. This extraction of the anchoring function into a separate device enables minimally invasive access while maintaining the capability to securely anchor to tissue structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The compression device chambers are nested within the anchor assembly structure, allowing the compression function to be integrated within the anchoring device. This nesting enables the entire system to be delivered through small incisions while maintaining both anchoring and compression capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 anchor assembly provides immediate relief from BPH symptoms by compressing the prostate gland, reducing urethral obstruction, and allowing for potential future TURP procedures, with a lower risk of complications and faster recovery compared to existing methods, while being usable in an office environment.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing Nitinol and stainless steel components for strength and biocompatibility

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShape memory alloy: Shape Memory Alloy

Implementation Method 2

capable of being implanted through small incisions, using a delivery tool to compress the prostate gland and increase the urethral opening

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentUS10265061B2Latching anchor device

Publication Date: 2019.04.23 TELEFLEX LIFE SCIENCES LLC

AI summary

An anchor that secures to a connector as part of an anchor assembly is disclosed. The proximal anchor includes a pair of spaced apart prongs which join together at a slot inception. The prongs are shaped and sized of a configuration to define a catch or latching structure. The prongs are configured to capture and deform the suture between the protrusions and prevent the suture from disengaging from the slotted anchor device once engaged.