Tensioning Tool for Rotator Cuff Tear Repair
The Rotator Cuff Tensioning Repair Tool allows orthopaedic surgeons to perform rotator cuff tear repair at a controlled tension when reattaching the rotator cuff tendon to the head of the humerus, which improves healing and outcomes.
Technology Overview
The Rotator Cuff Tensioning Repair Tool applies and holds a defined pre-set or pre-load tension to target tissues, such as blood vessels, tendons or ligaments, during surgical procedures, particularly during rotator cuff tear repair.
Clinicians can use the Rotator Cuff Tensioning Repair Tool to grasp target tissue, such as a retracted rotator cuff, and apply tension at a defined load by using the tension measurement device. Clinicians can then secure the target tissue to a local structure so that the target tissue has the desired pre-load tensile force.
By helping clinicians achieve an optimal preload repair tension, the Rotator Cuff Tensioning Repair Tool may improve the post-surgical healing process of injured tendon-muscle units.
It is estimated that over 30 million musculoskeletal injuries occur every year in the United States and that over 50% of these injuries involve soft tissue tears. Some of these tissues will re-tear after surgical repair. Rotator cuff tear repair surgery, in particular, has a high rate of re-tearing, which interferes with healing.
Conventionally, surgeons repair tendons based on subjective experience and estimations. Various tissue grasping devices are used to repair tendons, but there remains a need for a device that can effectively measure and hold proper tension in tissues in order to promote the healing of skeletal muscle and reduce the incidence of re-injury.
A working prototype of the Rotator Cuff Tensioning Repair Tool has been developed.
- Sandeep Mannava, MD, PhD, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Bioengineering, Neuroscience
- Martin L. Tanaka, PhD, PE, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
- Christopher J. Tuohy, MD, Department of Orthopaedics
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John Druga, MS, MBA
Licensing Director, Technology Commercialization
+1.336.716.4421
jdruga@wakehealth.edu