Concentric Suture Anchor Inserter for Stable Tendon-Bone Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suture anchor insertion methods often result in unstable tendon-bone healing due to oscillation or micro-motion, leading to potential re-tears, as current tools lack efficient mechanisms for securing sutures and anchors to bone effectively.
Innovation Solution
A novel insertion tool with a handle, intermediate, and outer shafts, allowing for controlled rotation and translation of the suture anchor components, utilizing a rotatable knob and gear system to advance the anchor body into bone while maintaining tension in the sutures, ensuring stable fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional suture anchor insertion methods are used, then the procedure can be performed with simpler tools, but the tendon-bone healing becomes unstable due to oscillation or micro-motion
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion tool is divided into multiple functional components: a handle for operator control, an intermediate shaft for mechanical advantage, an inner shaft for suture management, and an outer shaft for anchor delivery. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while working together to eliminate micro-motion during insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate shaft acts as a mediator between the handle and the inner/outer shafts, transmitting and coordinating their movements. It converts rotational motion from the handle into controlled linear advancement of the anchor while maintaining suture tension, thereby preventing oscillation and ensuring stable tendon-bone healing.
2Reliability
If the anchor body is advanced into bone without controlled rotation, then the insertion process is simpler, but oscillation or micro-motion occurs leading to poor healing
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion tool incorporates dynamic movement control where the intermediate shaft can rotate relative to the handle, and the outer shaft can translate distally relative to the handle. This dynamic coordination allows the anchor body to be advanced into bone with controlled rotation, eliminating oscillation while maintaining ease of operation through the integrated mechanical system.
3Reliability
If the suture is not maintained under tension during insertion, then the procedure is less complex, but the tendon-bone attachment becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The inner shaft and outer shaft are combined in a concentric arrangement where the inner shaft passes through the outer shaft. This merging allows the suture to be routed through both shafts, maintaining continuous tension control throughout the insertion process. The coordinated movement of both shafts ensures the suture remains taut without requiring separate tensioning devices.
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 tool facilitates secure attachment of sutures to bone, reducing oscillation and promoting effective tendon healing by maintaining suture tension and anchor stability during insertion, thereby enhancing the success of surgical repairs.
Implementation Method 1
a proximal end of the outer shaft may be movably coupled to the handle and to the rotatable knob via at least one spline aligned along the longitudinal axis and via a lead screw thread. Due to such movable coupling, rotation of the rotatable knob preferably drives distal translation of the outer shaft relative to the handle.
Implementation Method 2
the handle may have a rotatable knob coupled thereto for driving rotation of the intermediate shaft relative to the handle via a ring gear engaged with a spur gear
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An insertion tool for inserting a suture anchor into bone includes three concentric shafts coupled to a handle. An intermediate shaft is rotatable relative to the handle to rotate the anchor body. An inner shaft within the intermediate shaft has a distal end for coupling to an eyelet positionable distally of the anchor body. An outer shaft disposed about the intermediate shaft translates distally to advance the anchor body towards the eyelet. A retention suture and at least one repair suture may be coupled to the eyelet such that their free ends are coupled to the handle. The free ends of the retention suture extend within the intermediate shaft and through a space between a ring gear and a spur gear of the handle. During operation, the distance between the handle and the distal end of the inner shaft remains constant so as to maintain tension in the repair suture.