Threaded Surgical Anchor Delivery for Non-Rotating Sequential Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current procedures for treating rotator cuff or rotator cuff tendon injuries during arthroscopic procedures face challenges in delivering and securing multiple medical implants efficiently, leading to extended procedure times, potential sterility issues, and patient discomfort due to repeated device exchange.
Innovation Solution
A surgical anchor delivery device with an elongate shaft and a threaded rod that allows for advancing multiple surgical anchors sequentially without rotating them relative to the shaft, using a noncircular lumen and noncircular surgical anchors to prevent rotation, and featuring an actuation mechanism for controlled deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple surgical anchors are delivered using a threaded rod mechanism, then the quantity of anchors that can be delivered in a single procedure increases, but the complexity of the delivery device increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple surgical anchors are nested within the lumen of the elongate shaft in a sequential arrangement, with each anchor threaded onto the threaded rod. This allows multiple anchors to be contained within a single delivery device, enabling delivery of multiple anchors without requiring multiple separate devices or repeated sterilization events.
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery device is segmented into functional components: the elongate shaft with lumen for transport, the threaded rod for axial advancement, and the actuation mechanism for controlled deployment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while working together to deliver multiple anchors.
2Productivity
If a threaded rod is used to advance surgical anchors, then the productivity of anchor delivery increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The threaded rod is pre-threaded with multiple surgical anchors in the correct sequence before the procedure. This preliminary assembly allows the surgeon to simply rotate the threaded rod during the procedure to advance each anchor sequentially, eliminating the need for complex real-time assembly operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The threaded rod serves as an intermediary mechanism between the actuation mechanism and the surgical anchors. Rotation of the threaded rod converts rotational motion into linear advancement of the anchors through the threaded engagement, providing a simple and reliable transmission mechanism.
3Reliability
If noncircular lumens and noncircular anchors are used to prevent rotation, then the reliability of anchor placement increases, but the ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The lumen is designed with a noncircular cross-section that matches the noncircular cross-section of the surgical anchors. This asymmetric geometry prevents rotation of the anchors during delivery and ensures proper orientation upon deployment, improving placement reliability while the symmetry between mating surfaces simplifies manufacturing.
4Loss of time
If multiple anchors are delivered in a single procedure, then the loss of time is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery device enables continuous delivery of multiple surgical anchors in a single procedural sequence without removal or resterilization of the device. The threaded rod can be rotated continuously to advance multiple anchors sequentially, maintaining continuous useful action and eliminating time lost between procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery device is designed as a universal system that can deliver multiple different surgical anchors of varying sizes and configurations through the same lumen and threaded rod mechanism. This multi-functionality allows a single device to handle multiple delivery tasks throughout the procedure.
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
Enables efficient delivery and securement of multiple surgical anchors during a single arthroscopic procedure, reducing procedure time, maintaining sterility, and minimizing patient discomfort by eliminating the need for repeated device exchange.
Implementation Method 1
a threaded rod disposed within the elongate shaft and threadably engaged with the plurality of surgical anchors. Rotation of the threaded rod may advance the plurality of surgical anchors within the lumen toward the distal end of the elongate shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical anchor delivery device includes a shaft, a plurality of anchors disposed within the shaft, and a threaded rod disposed within the shaft and threadably engaged with the anchors. Rotation of the threaded rod advances the anchors toward the distal end of the shaft without rotating the anchors relative to the shaft. The delivery device may include an actuation mechanism configured to rotate the threaded rod. A method of delivering the anchors may include advancing the distal end of the shaft to a first location, rotating the threaded rod to advance a first anchor out the distal end of the shaft without rotating the first anchor relative to the shaft, repositioning the distal end of the shaft to a second position, and rotating the threaded rod to advance a second anchor out the distal end of the shaft without rotating the second anchor relative to the shaft.