Arthroscopic Tissue Anchor Delivery and Deployment System
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for effective methods and devices to securely deliver and position medical implants over or in the area of tendon tears, particularly in arthroscopic procedures for treating rotator cuff or rotator cuff tendon injuries.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a tissue anchor delivery device with an elongate shaft and a plurality of tissue anchors, and a separate tissue anchor deployment device, configured to deploy tissue anchors into a sheet-like implant and soft tissue or bone at the treatment site to secure the implant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single integrated device is used to deliver and deploy tissue anchors, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to precisely position and deploy anchors at non-parallel orientations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two separate devices: a tissue anchor delivery device with an elongate shaft for positioning, and a tissue anchor deployment device for deploying anchors at non-parallel orientations. This segmentation allows each device to be optimized for its specific function, enabling precise positioning and flexible deployment angles that would be difficult to achieve with a single integrated device.
Solution Approach 2:
The elongate shaft acts as an intermediary between the delivery device and the treatment site, providing a guide pathway that enables the deployment device to access and deploy anchors at non-parallel orientations while maintaining precise positioning control through the shaft's orientation and position.
2Productivity
If multiple tissue anchors are simultaneously deployed, then productivity is improved, but control over individual anchor placement and positioning precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs movable tissue anchors within the elongate shaft that can be dynamically positioned and deployed in a controlled sequence. The anchors are initially contained within the shaft for precise positioning, then deployed one at a time or in controlled groups, allowing the operator to maintain precision while achieving efficient multi-anchor deployment through the dynamic control of anchor release.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the deployment device is oriented parallel to the delivery device shaft, then device simplicity is maintained, but the ability to secure implants at various angles and orientations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The deployment device is designed to operate in a different orientation dimension relative to the elongate shaft, enabling non-parallel deployment angles. This dimensional change allows anchors to be deployed at various angles to the shaft axis, providing adaptability for securing implants at different orientations while maintaining relative simplicity through the modular device configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for securing a sheet-like implant to soft tissue and/or bone at a treatment site may include a tissue anchor delivery device configured to deliver at least one tissue anchor to the treatment site. Some systems may include a tissue anchor deployment device separate from the tissue anchor delivery device and configured to be oriented non-parallel to the tissue anchor delivery device. In some systems, the tissue anchor delivery device may include a tubular deployment member having at least one flange extending radially inward to define a distal aperture having a minimum lateral extent less than a maximum lateral extend of an enlarged head of a tissue anchor. Some systems and methods may be configured to deploy at least one tissue anchor into the sheet-like implant at an oblique angle to an upper surface of the sheet-like implant.