Tendon Repair Anchor With Unidirectional Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for attaching tendon grafts to bone during ACL reconstruction face challenges such as limited graft size, significant pain, chronic anterior knee pain, higher failure rates with cadaver grafts, and difficulty in harvesting and attaching quadriceps tendon grafts due to the need for large incisions and scar formation, as well as issues with adjusting graft tension and positioning.
Innovation Solution
A tendon repair anchor system comprising an anchor plug with tapering conical sections and an anchor receptacle with interior teeth, allowing for unidirectional movement to securely attach the tendon graft to the bone, adjusting for slack and ensuring proper positioning and tensioning, which can be used with various graft sources including quadriceps tendons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional anchor systems are used to attach tendon grafts to bone, then the graft can be secured to the bone, but the graft positioning and tensioning cannot be adjusted, leading to potential placement errors and suboptimal healing
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor system transitions from a static fixed-position design to a dynamic adjustable-position design. The anchor plug can be positioned at multiple locations along the anchor receptacle and locked into place, allowing the surgeon to adjust the graft positioning based on specific patient needs and graft characteristics. This dynamic adjustability directly improves graft positioning precision while maintaining reasonable device complexity through a modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor system is divided into separate functional components: the anchor receptacle embedded in the bone, the adjustable anchor plug, and the graft attachment mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the receptacle provides stable bone anchoring, the plug provides adjustable positioning, and the graft attachment provides tensioning. The modular segmented design achieves precise graft positioning without excessive overall complexity.
2Quantity of substance
If quadriceps tendon grafts are harvested using traditional methods, then the graft can be obtained, but large incisions are required causing significant scarring and post-operative pain
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor system acts as an intermediary that enables the use of quadriceps tendon grafts without requiring large incisions. By providing a secure, adjustable anchoring mechanism directly in the bone, the system allows for smaller, less invasive harvest sites while still achieving reliable graft fixation. This intermediary anchor mechanism decouples the graft attachment requirement from the incision size requirement, reducing post-operative pain and scarring.
3Quantity of substance
If cadaver grafts are used for ACL reconstruction, then graft availability is improved, but failure rate increases and disease transmission risk exists
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable anchor system provides enhanced reliability for autografts by allowing precise positioning and tensioning control. The system's adjustability enables optimal graft placement and tensioning for each patient's specific anatomy and injury pattern, maximizing the healing potential of autologous tissue. This self-service capability of the anchor system to adapt to individual patient needs improves graft reliability and reduces failure rates compared to fixed anchor systems.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If hamstring tendon grafts are harvested, then the scar is small and pain during rehabilitation is reduced, but the hamstring never recovers to previous strength and the graft stretches and loosens
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor system serves as an intermediary that compensates for the inherent weaknesses of hamstring tendon grafts. By providing a secure, adjustable bone anchor, the system maintains stable graft fixation that prevents stretching and loosening, thereby preserving hamstring strength recovery while allowing for the minimally invasive harvest approach that reduces post-operative pain and scarring.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables better healing and improved tendon replacement by allowing adjustable positioning and tensioning of the graft, reducing post-operative pain and scar formation, and enhancing the strength and stability of the repair, applicable beyond ACL reconstruction.
Implementation Method 1
an anchor plug with tapering conical sections and an anchor receptacle with interior teeth, allowing for unidirectional movement to securely attach the tendon graft to the bone
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a tendon repair anchor. An anchor plug is inserted into an anchor receptacle seated in a bone of a graft recipient. Sloped protrusions on the anchor plug interact with protrusions in the anchor receptacle to secure the anchor plug within the anchor receptacle and generally allow movement in a direction that more tightly secures the tendon graft to the bone. By allowing such unidirectional movement, slack in the sutures that secure the tendon graft to the anchor plug will not prevent the tendon graft from being properly positioned relative to the bone. Proper placement of the tendon graft allows for better healing and improves the likelihood of proper tendon replacement and tensioning.