Suture-Locking Washer for Thumb Metacarpal Fixation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for basal joint reconstruction after arthroplasty involve tendon harvesting and temporary pin fixation, leading to complications such as infection and nerve damage, and require drilling through bones to secure sutures, which can be painful and risky.

Innovation Solution

A novel sling suspension system using suture-locking washers that secure a suture to a bone anchor without the need for knots, allowing adjustable fixation of the thumb metacarpal to the index metacarpal, eliminating the need for tendon harvesting and temporary pin fixation, and providing a stable support for the thumb.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional methods are used to secure suture to bone anchor, then the suture can be fixed to bone, but drilling through holes in bone is required which causes pain and risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuture fixation reliabilityVSAvoidbone drilling risk and pain

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A suture-locking washer is introduced as an intermediary component between the suture and the bone anchor. The washer has a central opening that receives the bone anchor and a suture-engaging mechanism that secures the suture without requiring drilling through the bone. This intermediary device transfers the securing function from direct bone penetration to a mechanical locking system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If knots are tied in suture to fix anatomical objects, then the objects can be attached, but the knot-tying process is problematic and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanatomical object attachment reliabilityVSAvoidknot-tying time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The traditional knot-tying mechanical system is replaced with a suture-locking washer mechanism that uses a ratchet or friction-based locking system. The suture passes through the washer which has a one-way locking feature, allowing the suture to be pulled tight and locked in position without requiring complex knot-tying maneuvers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If tendon harvesting is performed for soft tissue reconstruction, then tendon transfer can be achieved, but complications such as infection and nerve damage occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoft tissue reconstruction capabilityVSAvoidinfection and nerve damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the problematic tendon harvesting step from the reconstruction process. Instead of harvesting and transferring tendons, the system uses a suture-locking washer mechanism that directly secures the soft tissue to the bone anchor through a minimally invasive percutaneous approach, eliminating the source of infection and nerve damage risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Stability of the object's composition

If temporary pin fixation is used during reconstruction, then anatomical stability can be maintained, but pin tract complications such as infection and neuroma formation occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanatomical stabilityVSAvoidpin tract complications

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The suture-locking washer acts as a temporary, disposable securing mechanism that provides the necessary stability during the healing period and then can be removed without causing pin tract complications. The washer is designed to be easily inserted and removed percutaneously, avoiding the creation of permanent pin tracts that can lead to infection and neuroma formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS20230293164A1Suture-locking washer for use with a bone anchor, and method for supporting the thumb of a patient after basal joint arthroplasty, and other novel orthopedic apparatus and other novel orthopedic procedures

Publication Date: 2023.09.21 SIMPARO INC

AI summary

The invention provides surgical methods, devices, apparatus, and systems for supporting the thumb of a patient after basal joint arthroplasty. The embodiments of the invention comprise at least one index metacarpal anchor, at least one thumb metacarpal anchor, at least one sling for positioning the thumb metacarpal anchor relative to the index metacarpal anchor, and at least one anchor washer for tightening and securing the sling(s) without the need to tie the suture(s) components of the sling(s) into knots. Index and thumb metacarpal anchors comprise at least one bone-engaging element for engaging the respective metacarpal. The anchor washer may incorporate one or more sling-engagement mechanisms. Increasing the number of sling-engagement mechanisms associated with the anchor washer increases the surface area of the sling(s) and provides multiple sling elements to provide redundancy and increase the pull force of the sling(s) attachment(s) used to affix the thumb and index metacarpal anchors into a position relative to each other.