Suture Capture Mechanism One-Way Locking for Tissue Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical techniques for repairing torn tissues, such as the rotator cuff, often require knots that are difficult to tie during minimally invasive surgery, leading to inadequate repair strength and increased operative time, and existing knotless solutions rely on friction that can damage sutures or fail due to anchor pullout.
Innovation Solution
A surgical suture system featuring a flexible suture member with protuberances and a unique suture capture mechanism that allows one-way locking, providing a high 'NO-GO' to 'GO' force ratio to secure the suture in place without friction, ensuring strong tissue attachment and minimizing suture damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If knots are tied to secure the reattached rotator cuff to the humerus head, then the repair strength is improved, but the procedural difficulty and operative time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the knot-tying step from the surgical procedure by using a pre-configured suture system with integrated locking mechanisms. The suture is pre-threaded through the anchor and tissue, allowing the surgeon to simply pull and lock the suture in place without performing complex knot-tying maneuvers through small incisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The suture system incorporates self-locking features where the suture itself creates the securing mechanism. The locked suture configuration automatically secures the tissue repair when tension is applied, eliminating the need for separate knot-tying actions by the surgeon.
2Device complexity
If friction-based anchor mechanisms are used to hold the suture in place, then the device complexity is reduced, but the suture may be damaged or the anchor may pullout
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a rounded, smooth suture surface that passes through a correspondingly shaped anchor aperture. This curved geometry allows the suture to be pulled through easily during installation while preventing reverse movement, creating a mechanical lock without requiring friction-based retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces friction-based mechanical retention with a geometric interlocking system. Instead of relying on friction between the suture and anchor surfaces, the system uses the shape and orientation of the suture within the anchor aperture to create a mechanical lock that prevents pullout.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional suture anchors engaging cancellous bone are used, then the anchoring is simplified, but the anchor may pullout due to osteopenia
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary action by pre-configuring the suture within the anchor aperture before the suture is pulled through during surgery. The suture is positioned and oriented in advance to ensure proper engagement geometry, allowing for easy installation while maintaining strong retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the retention mechanism from friction-based to geometry-based parameters. By altering how the suture interacts with the anchor from a friction-dependent relationship to a geometric interlocking relationship, the system achieves reliable retention independent of bone density or anchor embedding depth.
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3B
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AI summary
A surgical suture system, tissue restraint/suture capture and tissue anchor for tissue repair and reattachment of torn {issue to a tissue substrate, medical veterinary or denial prosthesis or medical implant. The system includes a plurality of tissue restraints/suture captures which each include a central locking aperture sized and configured to receive a beaded suture member passed therethrough which minimizes longitudinal tensioning and/or restraining movement, the "GO" force, of a beaded suture member in the forwardly direction through the locking apertures for suture tightening and which maximizes "NO-GO" force to pull the suture in the reverse direction. Uniquely configured tissue anchors and other medically implantable devices securely receive one of the tissue restraints/suture captures for tensioning of a suture member between tissue and the tissue anchor.