Multi-Diameter Suture Passing K-Wire for Bunion Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bunion repair techniques are technically challenging and prone to complications such as delayed union, malunion, and hardware failure due to the need for invasive procedures and difficulty in maintaining reduction of the intermetatarsal angle.
Innovation Solution
A suture passing K-wire with a multi-diameter shaft and a loop is used for minimally invasive bunion repair, allowing indirect placement of buttons across the first and second metatarsals, enabling easy passage of suture between bones without binding, and facilitating simultaneous drilling and suture passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional osteotomy methods are used to correct intermetatarsal angle, then bone realignment can be achieved, but the procedure becomes technically challenging and prone to complications such as delayed union, malunion, and hardware failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a suture-button construct as an intermediary fixation method between the first and second metatarsals. The buttons are placed on either side of the intermetatarsal joint and secured with high-strength sutures, serving as a mediator that holds the bones in correct alignment without requiring traditional internal fixation hardware that causes complications.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the traditional mechanical osteotomy system (bone cutting, plating, and screw fixation) with a soft tissue-based suture-button system. This substitution eliminates the need for rigid mechanical fixation hardware while achieving stable bone realignment through soft tissue tension and button anchoring.
2Manufacturing precision
If soft tissue correction is performed by suturing capsules, then intermetatarsal angle can be corrected, but loss of reduction occurs due to opposing forces and poor tissue quality
Solution Approach 1:
The suture-button construct is installed preliminary to final weight-bearing, establishing the correct intermetatarsal angle before functional loads are applied. The buttons and sutures are positioned and tensioned in advance to prevent loss of reduction when opposing forces occur during healing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the mechanical parameters of soft tissue fixation by using high-strength non-absorbable sutures and rigid buttons distributed across the intermetatarsal joint. This transforms the soft tissue construct into a more stable system that can resist opposing forces and maintain reduction stability.
3Ease of operation
If minimally invasive approach is used with suture passing K-wire, then procedure simplicity and flexibility are improved, but the K-wire must pass suture through bone tunnels without binding
Solution Approach 1:
The K-wire is segmented into multiple diameter sections along its length. The proximal portion has a larger diameter for initial bone tunnel creation, while the distal portion transitions to a smaller diameter that allows smooth suture passage without binding. This segmentation enables the single K-wire to perform multiple functions in sequence.
Solution Approach 2:
The K-wire incorporates a dynamic diameter change along its length, transitioning from a larger proximal diameter to a smaller distal diameter. This dynamic geometric variation allows the wire to efficiently drill bone tunnels while facilitating easy suture passage through the created channels without creating binding points.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for bunion repair using a suture passing K-wire configured to easily pass through bone tunnels with suture trailing. The suture passing K-wire includes a tapered guide pin with a multi-diameter shaft (i.e., comprising at least two regions or sections that have different diameters) and a loop which is securely attached to an end of the guide pin (i.e., to the smaller diameter section of the guide pin). The reconstruction system may be formed of a pair of buttons connected by a flexible strand. The procedure offers indirect placement of buttons and a minimally invasive approach.