Tapered Tissue Anchor With Snap-Fit Stem
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tissue anchoring devices, such as staples, screws, and suture anchors, face challenges in securely attaching soft tissue to bone without causing damage, particularly due to thread design issues with screws and the complexity of knot-tying with suture anchors, especially in limited access surgical sites.
Innovation Solution
The development of a tissue anchor comprising a screw with a tapered distal portion and a blunted thread crest, combined with a releasable stem, which allows for secure attachment between the tissue and bone while minimizing tissue damage and simplifying the anchoring process through a snap-fit attachment mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If interference screws are used to attach tissue to bone, then attachment is achieved by advancing the screw into the bone, but the tissue can be damaged by the thread as it is advanced into the bone, resulting in tearing and increased potential for detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The thread height varies along the length of the screw thread, with the first portion having a greater height than the second portion. This local variation in thread geometry allows the screw to achieve secure attachment while minimizing tissue damage in critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The thread parameters (height, pitch) are changed along the length of the screw. The thread transitions from a first portion with greater height to a second portion with lesser height, optimizing both attachment security and tissue preservation.
2Reliability
If suture anchors are used to attach tissue to bone, then attachment is accomplished by passing suture through tissue and fixing with a fastener, but the suture must be tied in a knot around the tissue which is complex and time consuming when access is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The knot-tying step is extracted from the attachment process. The tissue anchor device is designed to secure tissue without requiring external knot-tying, eliminating the complex manual manipulation needed in traditional suture anchor methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs the attachment function itself through the tapered stem mechanism that compresses and secures the tissue against the bone, eliminating the need for external knot-tying operations.
3Ease of manufacture
If a screw with constant thread height is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but tissue damage increases due to uniform thread engagement along the entire screw length
Solution Approach 1:
The thread is designed with different heights in different portions along its length. The first portion has greater thread height for secure engagement, while the second portion has lesser thread height to minimize tissue damage during advancement.
Solution Approach 2:
The thread engagement is partially applied along the screw length rather than uniformly. The varying thread height provides sufficient engagement where needed while reducing engagement in areas where it would cause damage.
Data Source
AI summary
Tissue anchors, kits that include a tissue anchor, and methods of anchoring tissue to a bone are described. An example embodiment of a tissue anchor includes a screw and a stem releasably attached to the screw. The screw defines a first opening, a second opening, and a lumen that extends from the first opening to the second opening. A portion of the stem is sized and configured to be received within the lumen defined by the screw.