Tensionable Knotless Anchor With Self-Cinching Loop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical methods for soft tissue repair to bone often require knot-tying, which can be cumbersome and lack the ability to adjust tension and tissue location effectively.
Innovation Solution
The development of tensionable knotless fixation devices with a pre-loaded tensioning construct, including a self-cinching loop and splice, that can be inserted into bone, allowing for adjustable tension and knotless fixation without the need for tying knots, using a flexible material like suture or suture tape threaded through an eyelet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional knot-tying methods are used for soft tissue fixation, then the tissue can be secured to bone, but the procedure becomes cumbersome and lacks adjustability for tension and tissue location
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation device incorporates a dynamic mechanism that allows the suture to be tensioned and the tissue location to be adjusted after insertion. The device includes a movable component that enables continuous adjustment of tension and position, transforming a static knot-tying procedure into a dynamic, adjustable system.
Solution Approach 2:
The device features a self-cinching mechanism that automatically secures the tissue once the desired tension is achieved. The suture construct is designed to self-lock and maintain tension without requiring additional knot-tying steps, allowing the system to service itself after initial adjustment.
2Productivity
If knotless fixation devices are used, then surgical efficiency is improved and knot-tying is eliminated, but the ability to adjust tension and location may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The knotless device incorporates a dynamic adjustment mechanism that allows tension and location to be modified after insertion. This maintains surgical efficiency by eliminating knot-tying while preserving adaptability through the built-in adjustment capability of the device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses an intermediary mechanical structure between the suture and the bone that enables adjustment without knot-tying. This intermediary component translates simple linear movements into tension adjustments and position changes, maintaining both efficiency and adaptability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a pre-loaded tensioning construct is used, then adjustable tension and knotless fixation are achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device merges the suture, the tensioning mechanism, and the fixation anchor into a single integrated pre-loaded construct. This combination reduces the number of separate components and assembly steps, managing device complexity while maintaining adjustability through the unified design.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-loaded tensioning construct is designed as a multi-functional unit that performs insertion, tensioning, and locking functions simultaneously. This universal design approach consolidates multiple functions into one device, reducing overall complexity compared to separate components for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
Surgical devices and methods of surgical repairs using the devices are disclosed. The device and methods aid in surgical repairs by allowing for quick and reproducible repairs to be made. A tensionable knotless fixation device is provided with a tensioning construct (formed of a tensioning strand, a tensionable, adjustable, knotless, self-cinching loop, and a splice adjacent the loop) pre-loaded onto a fixation device. A flexible material (for example, suture or suture tape) may be attached to a fixation device. A flexible material may be threaded through an eyelet of a fixation device.