Textured Suture Button for Knotless Soft Tissue Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical fasteners for securing soft tissue to bone often require knot tying, large bone holes, or risk tissue damage, and may not provide optimal fixation strength or ease of use in arthroscopic procedures.
Innovation Solution
A suture button with a textured bottom surface and multiple openings for secure attachment using a suture wire, which can be compressed against the soft tissue to enhance fixation strength without knots or large bone holes, and can be used with various anchors like knotless suture anchors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional surgical fasteners are used to secure soft tissue to bone, then fixation can be achieved, but knot tying is required and bone holes must be large which increases operative time and bone loss
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation device is divided into separate functional components: a button element with multiple openings for suture passage, a textured surface for tissue engagement, and an anchor element for bone insertion. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, eliminating the need for knot tying while maintaining strong fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The button element features a textured surface with specific geometric patterns (ridges, grooves, or protrusions) that change the surface parameters to enhance tissue engagement. The multiple openings in the button element allow suture wire to pass through without requiring knots, reducing operative time while maintaining fixation strength.
2Strength
If traditional fasteners are used, then soft tissue can be secured to bone, but tissue damage risk increases and fixation strength is not optimal
Solution Approach 1:
The button element has a textured surface with specific geometric features (ridges, grooves, or protrusions) localized to the tissue-contacting surface. This local quality enhancement provides optimal tissue engagement and fixation strength without requiring damage to the soft tissue or bone, as the textured surface distributes forces evenly across the contact area.
3Productivity
If knotless fixation is implemented, then operative time is reduced, but the device complexity increases with multiple openings and textured surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The button element combines multiple functions into a single integrated component: it provides the textured surface for tissue engagement, contains multiple openings for suture passage, and serves as the interface between the anchor element and the soft tissue. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining knotless fixation capability.
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 suture button provides strong, knotless fixation of soft tissue to bone with reduced OR time, minimal bone loss, and less pain, suitable for arthroscopic techniques, and can be used in various soft tissue repairs including biceps tendon tears.
Implementation Method 1
The suture button provides strong, knotless fixation of soft tissue to bone with reduced OR time, minimal bone loss, and less pain
Data Source
AI summary
A suture button is provided that is adapted for soft tissue fixation. In one aspect, the button includes a textured bottom surface that allows gripping the soft tissue material and distributing the tension that holds the soft tissue to the bone thereby reducing the likelihood the soft tissue tearing.