Summary
The Flexor Tendon Coupler is a sutureless and knotless tendon bridging device and method that systemically repairs ruptures increasing the likelihood of reproducibility during surgery, immediate tendon strength, and earlier rehabilitation.
Inventors
Sam Fuller, MD
Dave Dudzinski
What is it? What does it do?
Flexor tendon injuries often pose a surgical challenge because results remain unpredictable. Even with advances in suture techniques and better understanding of tendon morphology and biomechanics, suture knots tend to be sites of weakness, impairing tendon healing, stimulating an inflammatory response, and increasing the bulk of the tendon repair. These challenges have led to an increased interest in knotless flexor tendon repair.
MedStar Health’s Flexor Tendon Coupler is a sutureless and knotless tendon bridging device and method that systemically repairs ruptures. The coupler increases the likelihood of reproducibility during surgery, improves immediate tendon strength, and supports earlier rehabilitation.
Why is it better?
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The low-profile device offers high tensile strength to preserve tendon gliding function
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Longitudinal forces are transferred to the coupler across the tendon healing site to reduce gapping or early rupture during rehabilitation
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Applicator tool will provide rapid and consistent deployment of the coupler device, decreasing time spent in surgery
Photos
What is its current status?
The Flexor Tendon Coupler device and applicator have been developed and prototyped. Proof of concept biomechanical testing of the prototype was performed on cadaveric hand tendons with acceptable load to failure.
US Patent 10,653,515 “Tendon Repair Apparatus and Method.”
The MedStar Inventor Services team is now seeking a licensing/collaboration partner to develop and commercialize this technology. Please contact us at invent@medstar.net.