Customizable Tendon Construct Preparation System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tooling setups for pre-suturing and pre-tensioning tendon constructs are oversized, cumbersome, non-customizable, and ill-suited for clean room environments, requiring multiple equipment setups for different suturing methods and tissue types, leading to inefficiencies and tissue wastage.
Innovation Solution
A customizable system with a triple-channel base and tendon-manipulation accessories that can be configured in various arrangements for preparing and testing pre-sutured tendon constructs, allowing a single technician to efficiently handle multiple construct types and sizes within a clean room environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing tooling setups are used for pre-suturing and pre-tensioning tendon constructs, then specific suturing methods and tissue types can be handled, but the equipment becomes oversized, cumbersome, and requires multiple setups for different construct types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single base unit with multiple interchangeable tendon-manipulation accessories that can perform various suturing methods and tissue type preparations. The base unit serves multiple functions through accessory interchangeability, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated equipment setups while maintaining adaptability across different surgical requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the equipment into a modular system consisting of a base unit and separate interchangeable accessories. This segmentation allows the main base to remain compact while specific functions are distributed to detachable accessories, reducing overall equipment complexity and size while preserving versatility through selective accessory attachment
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing tooling setups are used for tendon construct preparation, then specific construct types can be prepared, but the equipment is ill-suited for clean room environments and sterilization
Solution Approach 1:
The universal base unit designed in the patent can accommodate multiple accessories for different construct types, and the entire system is designed to be sterilizable as a complete assembly. This allows the equipment to maintain versatility while being compatible with clean room protocols and autoclave sterilization processes
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple equipment setups are used for different suturing methods and tissue types, then specific preparation requirements can be met, but personnel efficiency decreases and tissue wastage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics through the interchangeable accessory system that allows rapid reconfiguration of the base unit for different suturing methods and tissue types. This dynamic adaptability enables a single technician to efficiently handle varied preparation requirements without switching between multiple fixed equipment setups, thereby improving personnel efficiency and reducing tissue wastage
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed a customizable system and methods of use for manufacturing and testing a variety of pre-sutured allograft tendon constructs sutured according to a variety of stitching patterns and featuring a variety of tissue lengths and types. One embodiment includes a triple-channel base having first, second, and third longitudinal channels extending between first and second ends of the base, as well as a plurality of tendon-manipulation accessories. Each of the tendon-manipulation accessories includes a locking-base assembly for selectively securing the accessory to the base such that the multiple tendon-manipulation accessories may be secured to the triple-channel base in a variety of custom arrangements suitable for preparing the variety of pre-sutured constructs and/or for pre-tensioning or testing the variety of the pre-sutured constructs. Other embodiments are also disclosed.