Temporary Suture Anchors for Pinless 3D Orthopedic Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional reference pins used in robotic and navigated orthopedic surgeries loosen during procedures, causing measurement errors, obstructing surgeons, altering stress distribution, and creating bone weaknesses, with post-surgery pain and fracture risks due to drilled holes.

Innovation Solution

The use of temporary suture anchors to secure navigational markers to the patient's anatomy, which are less invasive and removable, allowing for precise mapping and navigation without leaving remnants in the bone.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional reference pins are used for navigation, then measurement precision is improved, but the pins loosen during procedures causing measurement errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespatial measurement accuracyVSAvoidpin stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the navigation reference function from traditional rigid pins and transfers it to a flexible suture-based system. The suture anchor with attached suture serves as the reference marker, eliminating the need for rigid pins that loosen. This extraction resolves the contradiction by maintaining measurement precision through the suture anchor while eliminating the reliability issue of pin loosening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state of the reference marker from rigid (pin) to flexible (suture). This parameter change allows the reference marker to maintain stable positioning without the loosening problem inherent in rigid pins. The flexible suture can adapt to bone movement while maintaining its reference function, resolving the stability-measurement precision contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If traditional reference pins are inserted into bone, then navigation accuracy is improved, but the pins obstruct the surgeon during portions of the procedure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation accuracyVSAvoidsurgeon accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a flexible suture instead of a rigid pin as the reference marker. The flexible suture can be positioned to provide navigation accuracy while allowing the surgeon freedom of movement around the bone surface. This flexibility resolves the contradiction by maintaining navigation accuracy while eliminating the obstruction problem of rigid pins.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Stability of the object's composition

If traditional reference pins are placed by drilling, then reference stability is improved, but bone integrity is compromised creating areas of weakness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereference stabilityVSAvoidbone integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the reference function from drilled pins and implements it through suture anchors that can be placed without drilling. This eliminates the bone damage associated with drilling while maintaining reference stability, resolving the contradiction between stability and bone integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the insertion method from drilling (rigid pin) to suture anchor placement (flexible suture). This parameter change eliminates the need for drilling, thereby preserving bone integrity while maintaining reference stability through the suture-based system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Extent of automation

If traditional reference pins are used, then navigation function is provided, but post-surgery pain and fracture risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation functionVSAvoidpost-surgery pain and fracture risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses disposable suture anchors that can be easily removed after the navigation function is no longer needed. This temporary, removable approach eliminates the long-term bone damage and pain issues associated with permanent pins, resolving the contradiction between providing navigation function and minimizing post-surgery harm.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS20250288375A13D pinless navigation/robotic system using temporary suture anchors

Publication Date: 2025.09.18 LAW JESUA

AI summary

A navigation system is used to provide the real-time position of a patient's anatomy during the procedure. An innovative suture anchor is used to temporarily affix a navigation marker to a patient's anatomy for an orthopedic procedure. The suture anchor includes a first suture having a hollow passageway connecting a knot end and a leash end, a second suture having a hollow passageway connecting a knot end and a leash end, and a third suture having two leash ends and passing through the hollow passageways of the first and second sutures and interconnecting the knot ends thereof. When the two leash ends of the third suture is pulled it causes the knot ends of the first and second sutures to interlock and expand into an enlarged knot, and the enlarge knot is adapted to engage a small diameter superficial hole in a patient's bone.