Thermoplastic Suture Anchor for Adjustable Bone Fixation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing suture anchor technologies face challenges in securely attaching soft tissue to hard tissue while protecting sutures from damaging influences during liquefaction, such as friction and heat, and require adjustable tensioning during fixation.

Innovation Solution

A suture anchor with thermoplastic properties is liquefied in situ to penetrate hard tissue, using vibrational energy, and features distal conduits for suture locking, either by clamping or collapsing, allowing adjustable tensioning and protection from liquefaction effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the suture anchor is fixated using in-situ liquefaction with vibrational energy, then the anchor achieves secure fixation in hard tissue, but the suture is exposed to damaging influences such as friction and heat during the liquefaction process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixation securityVSAvoidsuture damage from friction and heat

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The suture anchor is divided into distinct functional zones: a distal fixation portion that undergoes liquefaction for bone anchoring, and a proximal suture-receiving portion that remains intact and thermally isolated. This segmentation allows the suture to be positioned away from the harmful liquefaction zone while maintaining secure fixation through the thermoplastic material's anchoring action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The anchor body acts as an intermediary element between the suture and the hard tissue. It receives the suture in a protected environment away from the liquefaction process, then transmits the anchoring forces to the bone through the thermoplastic material's expansion and interlocking with bone pores, thereby isolating the suture from direct exposure to friction and heat.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the suture is locked during the fixation process, then secure suture retention is achieved, but the suture tension cannot be adjusted during the anchoring process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuture retentionVSAvoidtension adjustability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The anchor is designed with a preliminary suture-receiving configuration that allows the suture to be positioned and tensioned before final locking occurs. The suture conduit or groove is pre-formed to guide the suture, allowing surgeons to adjust tension during the implantation process before the anchor fully expands and locks the suture in place.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The anchor transitions from a dynamic state during implantation where the suture can be adjusted and repositioned, to a locked state where the suture is securely retained. The thermoplastic material allows for temporary flexibility during insertion that enables tension adjustment, then provides rigid locking once fixation is achieved.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If the anchor material is fully liquefied for penetration, then complete penetration and positive fit connection are achieved, but the suture becomes vulnerable to thermal damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepenetration accuracyVSAvoidthermal damage to suture

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different portions of the anchor exhibit different thermal properties: the distal fixation portion is designed to undergo complete liquefaction for precise bone penetration and positive fit connection, while the proximal suture-receiving portion maintains structural integrity and lower temperature to protect the suture. This local differentiation of material behavior allows complete penetration without compromising suture safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 solution provides secure, adjustable suture fixation to hard tissue, safeguarding against liquefaction damage and enabling knot-less procedures, suitable for minimally invasive surgeries.

Implementation Method 1

anchored in a hard tissue opening with the aid of preferably vibratory energy used for in situ liquefaction of the material having thermoplastic properties

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibrational energy: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

liquefied in situ to penetrate the hard tissue of the wall of the hard tissue opening

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLiquefaction: Melting

Data Source

PatentUS20250339138A1Suture anchor and method for fixating a suture relative to hard tissue

Publication Date: 2025.11.06 SPORTWELDING

AI summary

A suture anchor includes a material having thermoplastic properties and is fixated in a hard tissue opening by liquefying at least part of this material and letting it penetrate into walls of the hard tissue opening. During the named fixation and preferably towards the end of it, the suture being held in a distal suture conduit is locked relative to the hard tissue by being clamped between the suture anchor and the wall of the hard tissue opening or by being clamped or braked through collapse of the suture conduit.