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Posterior meniscus root suture delivery

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Design an orthopedic tool that allows for the successful repair of the posterior meniscus through the tibial tunnel.

Project Overview

Meniscus tears are painful injuries that can cause long term discomfort and reduced physical capabilities. For some patients, the best plan for recovery involves surgical repair of the torn tissue. However, the tools for the surgeries are not ideal for all surgical techniques or patients. The surgery involves drilling two access ports, one anterior to the knee and one in the tibia up to the knee. The current tools lead to complications as the jaws of the device are too large for the intercondylar space when opened. Current devices can increase the chances of error due to decreased maneuverability within the knee and risk damage to the cartilage. The client, Dr. Walczak, tasked the team with creating a new device that will fix the current surgical problems. The new product should allow the surgeon to access the knee through the tibial tunnel, which has a diameter of 2-3 mm, place a suture in the torn meniscus and self-retrieve said suture. The device also must articulate to reach the meniscus and place the suture 5-7mm from the edge of the meniscus.

Team Picture

Team members from left to right: Sam, Hailey, Elizabeth, Thor, and Jack.
Team members from left to right: Sam, Hailey, Elizabeth, Thor, and Jack.

Contact Information

Team Members

  • Hailey Frye - Team Leader
  • Samantha Barr - Communicator
  • Thor Larson - BSAC
  • Elizabeth Gunderson - BWIG
  • Jack Stamer - BPAG
  • Ian Kuckelman

Advisor and Client

  • Prof. John Puccinelli - Advisor
  • Dr. Brian Walczak - Client

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