Whipping Suture Anchor for Soft Tissue Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical techniques for reattaching detached soft tissue to bone lack a suture construct that provides sufficient strength and durability for effective fixation, particularly when using soft materials.
Innovation Solution
A whipping suture anchor formed by wrapping yarn or twine around a suture eyelet to create a robust, geometrically-shaped construct that can be inserted into a bone socket for secure tissue fixation, using resorbable or non-resorbable materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional suture anchors are used for soft tissue fixation, then the fixation strength is sufficient, but the device complexity and material hardness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by constructing the anchor body from flexible suture materials (braided or twisted configurations) rather than rigid materials. The suture is whipped and bound to form a three-dimensional anchor body that maintains flexibility while providing adequate fixation strength, thereby reducing device complexity and avoiding the need for hard materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material principles by combining suture material with whipping material to create a composite anchor structure. The braided or twisted suture configuration combined with the whipping pattern creates a composite construct that achieves sufficient mechanical strength while maintaining material softness and reducing overall device complexity.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If soft materials are used for suture constructs, then the material compatibility with tissue is improved, but the fixation strength and durability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by transitioning from a simple linear suture to a three-dimensional whipped anchor body. The whipping process creates multiple loops and layers in different spatial dimensions, significantly increasing the surface area and structural complexity of the soft material construct, thereby enhancing fixation strength and durability while maintaining tissue compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic principles by creating a whippled anchor body with inherent flexibility and movement capability. The braided or twisted suture configuration allows the anchor to dynamically adapt to tissue movement and bone socket geometry, maintaining effective fixation strength while preserving the soft, tissue-compatible material properties.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If a robust anchor construct is created, then the fixation durability is improved, but the ease of insertion into bone socket decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the anchor construction into distinct functional components: the suture material forming the base structure, the whipping material creating the anchor body, and the resulting three-dimensional construct. This segmented approach allows the anchor to be formed with optimized durability characteristics while maintaining a compact size suitable for surgical insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by varying the whipping tension, number of wraps, and suture configuration to optimize the balance between anchor robustness and insertability. By adjusting these parameters during the whipping process, the anchor achieves sufficient durability for long-term fixation while maintaining the flexibility needed for ease of insertion into the bone socket.
Data Source
AI summary
A fixation device for fixation of soft tissue to bone with a body formed essentially of resorbable or non-resorbable yarns. The fixation device may be a knotted or a knotless construct. The fixation device is a soft, yarn-based whipping anchor which is formed by providing a suture eyelet, and passing a plurality of passes of yarns around the suture eyelet (forming a whipping twine), using the suture eyelet as a mandrel, to create a robust construct which may have geometrically-shaped features such as barbs. The eyelet and the twine may be made from resorbable material, non-resorbable material, or combination of resorbable and non-resorbable materials.