Wedge-Shaped Meniscus Suture Implants for Strain Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suturing devices for meniscal lacerations face issues such as strain on the meniscus due to flat implant shapes, complex assembly, limited thread size, and risk of tissue damage from thin threads and pulley effects, leading to potential further injuries and complications during arthroscopic surgery.
Innovation Solution
A suturing device featuring elongated body with a longitudinal cavity and wedge-shaped implants that eliminate the need for needles, simplify handling, and reduce production costs by using a monolithic design with breakable connections, allowing for direct tissue penetration and uniform strain distribution without knots, thereby enhancing safety and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If flat-shaped implants are used for suturing meniscal lacerations, then the implants can be easily manufactured and inserted, but considerable strain is placed on the perimeter of the implants causing further injuries to the meniscus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces flat rectangular implants with spherical or rounded implants. The spherical shape distributes strain uniformly across the meniscal tissue rather than concentrating it at the perimeter, eliminating the harmful stress concentration effect while maintaining ease of manufacture through standard spherical component production
2Manufacturing precision
If a grooved needle is used to guide the implant, then the implant can be precisely positioned, but the needle takes up preponderant space inside the cannula limiting thread size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the grooved needle component from the system entirely. Instead of guiding the implant through a needle, the implant is directly inserted into the cannula or delivered through a simplified delivery mechanism, freeing up space within the cannula to accommodate larger diameter surgical threads for better tissue handling
3Device complexity
If thin surgical thread is used to accommodate the needle space, then the device can be compact, but the thread increases strain concentration and risks cutting effect during traction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the space constraint that previously forced thin thread usage into a benefit by eliminating the needle entirely. This removes the space occupation, allowing larger diameter threads to be used without increasing device complexity, thereby converting the harmful cutting effect into a beneficial robust tissue handling capability
4Reliability
If the cannula is introduced to keep implants and thread isolated, then sterility is maintained, but the needle and cannula combination increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of the needle and cannula into a single integrated delivery system. The implant is delivered through a streamlined mechanism that maintains sterility without requiring separate needle and cannula components, thereby reducing device complexity while preserving reliability
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 device provides a high-performance, safe, and reliable suturing solution by reducing tissue strain, simplifying assembly, and minimizing the risk of further injuries through direct tissue penetration and efficient thread management, improving the precision and effectiveness of meniscal laceration repair.
Implementation Method 1
the implants are defined by respective wedge-shaped elements arranged in sequence and extending from an enlarged portion to a tapered portion along said main direction
Implementation Method 2
the tapered end of the second wedge-shaped element is rigidly connected to the first implant via a respective breakable connection area
Data Source
AI summary
A suturing device, in particular for suturing lacerations of the meniscus, comprises an elongated body provided with a longitudinal cavity extending along a main direction, at least a first and a second implant slidably inserted in the cavity and arranged in sequence along the main direction and a surgical thread slidably inserted in the cavity and connected to the first and second implant. Such first and second implant comprise, respectively, a first and a second wedge-shaped element arranged in sequence and extending from an enlarged portion to a tapered portion along the main direction.