Two-Bodied Suture Anchor With Expansion Wings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smaller suture anchors used in surgical repairs have reduced fixation strength due to lower surface area for frictional engagement with bone, leading to potentially unstable tissue repairs.
Innovation Solution
A suture securing assembly with a two-bodied anchor system, where a proximal body is fixed to an inserter and a distal body with expansion wings is moved to enhance suture lock within the bone hole, using a combination of threaded and barbed features for mechanical engagement, allowing for improved fixation and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If smaller suture anchors are used to reduce invasiveness and accelerate patient healing, then ease of operation and patient recovery are improved, but fixation strength is reduced due to lower surface area for frictional engagement with bone
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor is divided into two separate bodies: a proximal body that provides frictional engagement with the bone hole wall and a distal body that provides suture retention. This segmentation allows each body to be optimized for its specific function, enabling the anchor to maintain fixation strength despite reduced overall size.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from relying solely on frictional engagement (surface area dependent) to incorporating mechanical interlocking through the two-bodied structure with expansion wings and suture retention features. This adds a dimensional aspect of mechanical engagement that compensates for reduced surface area in smaller anchors.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If smaller suture anchors are used to reduce invasiveness and accelerate patient healing, then patient recovery is improved, but stability of tissue repair is worsened due to reduced fixation strength
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the anchor into proximal and distal bodies with distinct functions, the design maintains stable tissue repair through reliable suture retention in the distal body while allowing the proximal body to provide consistent frictional engagement, ensuring long-term stability despite smaller anchor size.
Solution Approach 2:
The two-bodied structure acts as an intermediary mechanism between the suture and the bone hole, providing multiple engagement points (frictional engagement at proximal body, mechanical interlocking at distal body) that ensure stable tissue repair even when the overall anchor size is reduced for faster patient recovery.
3Strength
If a two-bodied anchor system with expansion wings is used to enhance suture lock and fixation strength, then fixation strength and suture lock are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor is segmented into two functional bodies that work together to provide enhanced fixation strength and suture lock. The proximal body handles frictional engagement while the distal body handles suture retention, with the segmentation enabling improved performance despite the increased structural complexity.
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 two-bodied anchor system increases the fixation strength of micro anchors in bone holes and improves suture lock, providing enhanced stability and security for tissue repairs, even with smaller anchors.
Implementation Method 1
The inner shaft defines a second locking feature for mechanical engagement with the first locking feature. In examples, the first locking feature is a first plurality of threads formed on an inner surface of the cavity, and the second locking feature is a second plurality of threads formed on an outer surface of the inner shaft
Implementation Method 2
In other examples, the first locking feature is a hole formed in the cavity and the second locking feature is a plurality of barbs on an outer surface of the inner shaft, the hole being configured to press over the barbs
Implementation Method 3
A problem arises with the user of smaller anchors, though, in that less surface area is available for frictional engagement with the surrounding bone. Thus, lower fixation strength is often observed in smaller anchors
Data Source
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AI summary
A suture securing assembly comprises a two-bodied anchor and an associated delivery system which enhances fixation of a micro anchor in a bone hole or tunnel, as well as improving suture lock within bone. Initially, the two bodies are separated by a length of an inner shaft of the delivery system. The proximal body is fixed on the inner shaft of the delivery system and cannot move relative to the handle until after insertion into the bone, when the delivery system is disengaged from the anchor. The distal body further includes expansion wings and/or other features for increasing suture lock within the bone hole.