Artificial ligamentum flavum complex

Abstract

The invention discloses an artificial ligamentum flavum complex which comprises an artificial ligament and two fixing seats, and the two ends of the artificial ligament are fixedly connected with the two fixing seats respectively. Screw holes are formed in the two fixing seats, the two fixing seats are fixedly connected with the spine by installing screws into the respective screw holes, and the bone contact surfaces at the bottoms of the two fixing seats are provided with micropore structures. When the artificial ligamentum flavum complex is installed on the spine, the artificial ligamentum flavum complex can replace the cut ligamentum flavum to maintain the mechanical stability of the spine and cover the dura mater to reduce postoperative dura mater scars. Therefore, the artificial ligamentum flavum complex can replace ligamentum flavum removed in the operation, improve the stability of the spine of a patient, reduce postoperative spine instability, protect spinal canal duramater and nerves, reduce scar adhesion and improve the postoperative clinical effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the field of hospital instruments, and in particular relates to an artificial yellow ligament complex. Background Art

[0002] The yellow ligament is an important ligament on the spine. It is an important anatomical structure in the human spine. It is located between the lamina of each vertebra and plays a key biomechanical and protective role: 1. It connects adjacent vertebrae and limits the excessive flexion of the spine. It provides appropriate support during the dynamic activities of the spine, keeps the spine stable during activities and prevents dislocation. 2. When the spine returns to an upright position from a bent position, the yellow ligament can quickly return to its original state, playing a "rebound" role and reducing the burden on the spinal muscles. 3. The yellow ligament constitutes the posterior wall of the spinal canal and protects the spinal cord and nerve roots in the spinal canal. 4. The yellow ligament can limit the flexion angle of the spine and prevent intervertebral disc herniation or other spinal injuries caused by excessive bending. 5. The yellow ligament plays an auxiliary supporting role in the overall structure of the spinal canal and participates in the load and pressure distribution of the spine in static and dynamic states. When standing and walking, it helps maintain the physiological curvature and function of the spine.

[0003] As the load on the spine stimulates the yellow ligament to hypertrophy to meet the mechanical needs of the spine, it causes spinal canal stenosis and nerve compression. In current spinal surgery, whether it is lumbar disc herniation, spinal canal stenosis, or spinal spondylolisthesis, in spinal decompression surgery, whether it is open or minimally invasive surgery, it is necessary to remove the yellow ligament to enter the spinal canal to achieve decompression of the spinal canal and nerve root canal. However, removing the yellow ligament will destroy the mechanical stability of the spine, leading to spinal instability, low back pain, further spinal degeneration, and disc injury, which seriously affects the patient's quality of life.

[0004] Traditional yellow ligament reconstruction or repair surgery usually uses autologous or allogeneic transplantation to achieve reconstruction or repair, but there are problems such as insufficient donors, rejection, and slow postoperative recovery. Currently, there is no artificial yellow ligament applied to the human spine. Therefore, the development of an artificial yellow ligament complex with good biocompatibility and bone integration function is of great clinical significance. Summary of the invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an artificial yellow ligament complex, which has good biocompatibility, strength and the function of promoting bone integration, can replace or repair damaged yellow ligaments, improve the stability of the patient's spine, and accelerate postoperative recovery.

[0006] The present application is implemented as follows: an artificial yellow ligament complex is used for reconstruction of the yellow ligament of the human spine, which includes an artificial ligament and two fixing seats, and the two ends of the artificial ligament are respectively fixedly connected to the two fixing seats; screw holes are provided on the two fixing seats, and the two fixing seats are fixedly connected to the spine by inserting screws into their respective screw holes.

[0007] Furthermore, the two fixing seats have a pore structure, and the pore structure includes a plurality of micropores opened at the bottom of the fixing seat, and the porosity of the micropores is 50% to 80%, and the pore diameter is 100 μm to 500 μm.

[0008] Furthermore, the fixing seat and the microporous surface are modified and attached with a substance that promotes bone fusion.

[0009] Furthermore, the two fixing seats have a pore structure, and the pore structure includes a plurality of grooves opened at the bottom of the fixing seat.

[0010] Furthermore, a plurality of the grooves are distributed in a crisscross pattern.

[0011] Furthermore, the artificial yellow ligament includes at least one braided belt, and the braided belt is braided by making silk threads from the same or different biocompatible polymer materials.

[0012] Furthermore, a fixing groove is provided at the end of the fixing seat, and the end of the artificial ligament extends into and is fixed in the fixing groove.

[0013] Furthermore, a fixing column is provided in the fixing groove, and the artificial ligament is ring-shaped, with two ends thereof respectively wound around the fixing columns of the two fixing seats.

[0014] Furthermore, the artificial yellow ligament is formed into a ring shape by suturing, fusion or injection molding.

[0015] Furthermore, the fixing seat is made of titanium alloy.

[0016] Furthermore, a pointed cone or barb extends downward from the bottom of the fixing seat.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0018] The artificial yellow ligament complex provided by the present application is used for the reconstruction and repair of the yellow ligament on the human spine or for strengthening the natural yellow ligament. The artificial yellow ligament complex includes an artificial ligament and two fixing seats, and the two ends of the artificial ligament are fixedly connected to the two fixing seats respectively. Screw holes are provided on the two fixing seats, and the two fixing seats are fixedly connected to the spine by inserting screws into their respective screw holes. When the artificial yellow ligament complex is installed on the spine, it can replace the removed yellow ligament to maintain the mechanical stability of the spine, and cover the dura mater to reduce postoperative dura mater scars. It can be seen that the artificial yellow ligament complex used in the present application can replace the yellow ligament removed during surgery, improve the stability of the patient's spine, reduce postoperative instability, protect the dura mater and nerves in the spinal canal, reduce scar adhesion, and improve postoperative clinical effects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of an artificial yellow ligament complex provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0020] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the structure of the artificial yellow ligament complex from another angle is shown;

[0021] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the structure of the artificial yellow ligament complex after the screw is inserted;

[0022] Figure 4a is a schematic structural diagram of a second artificial ligamentum flavum complex provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0023] Figure 4b is a schematic structural diagram of a third artificial ligamentum flavum complex provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0024] Figure 4c is a schematic structural diagram of a fourth artificial yellow ligament complex provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0025] Figure 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a fifth artificial ligamentum flavum complex provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0026] Figure 6 It is a structural schematic diagram of a fixing seat provided with a fixing column provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0027] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the annular artificial ligament and the fixing seat provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0028] Numbers in the figure:

[0029] 1. Artificial ligament; 2. Fixing seat; 21. Screw hole; 22. Microhole; 23. Groove; 24. Fixing groove; 25. Fixing column; 3. Screw. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0031] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "rear", "vertical", "horizontal", "inside", "outside" and the like indicate positions or positional relationships based on the positions or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present invention; the terms "first", "second", and "third" are only used for descriptive purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance; in addition, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be directly connected, or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or it can be a connection between the two components. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0032] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 This embodiment provides an artificial yellow ligament complex, which is used for the reconstruction and repair of the yellow ligament on the human spine or the strengthening of the natural yellow ligament, and includes an artificial ligament 1 and two fixing seats 2. The two ends of the artificial ligament 1 are fixedly connected to the two fixing seats 2 respectively; the two fixing seats 2 are provided with two screw holes 21, and the two fixing seats 2 are fixedly connected to the spine by inserting screws into their respective screw holes 21. Since the fixing seat 2 is designed with two screw holes 21, it can ensure that the artificial ligament 1 is firmly fixed to the vertebra during the operation to avoid postoperative displacement.

[0033] Specifically, the fixing seat 2 is made of titanium alloy. The titanium alloy material has good mechanical strength and biocompatibility, can exist stably in the human body for a long time, and has high corrosion resistance.

[0034] The bottom of the two fixing seats 2 is provided with a plurality of pore structures. In this embodiment, the pore structure is a plurality of micropores 22 arranged in an array at the bottom of the fixing seat 2, and the depth direction of the micropores 22 is parallel to the thickness direction of the fixing seat 2. Preferably, the porosity of the micropores 22 in this embodiment is 50% to 80%, and the pore diameter is 100 μm to 500 μm.

[0035] like Figure 3As shown, the two fixing seats 2 are both flat-plate-shaped, and each fixing seat 2 is provided with one or more inclined screw holes so that the screws 3 can be screwed in from the side. The fixing seat 2 can be fixed on the spinous process of the human spine by inserting the screws 3 into the screw holes 21. In practical applications, the number of screws 3 installed is not limited (that is, the design number of screw holes 21 is not limited), and one or more screws 3 can be installed according to specific needs.

[0036] In order to more conveniently fix the fixing seat 2 on the spinous process during endoscopic or open surgery, this embodiment also provides various types of artificial yellow ligament complexes.

[0037] Reference Figure 4a , shows the second type of artificial yellow ligament complex provided by this embodiment, which includes a first fixing seat 2a and a second fixing seat 2b, both of which are L-shaped, and both of which have array-distributed microholes 22 at the bottom. This type of fixing seat 2 is suitable for installation in a location with a large installation space. The fixing seat 2 can play a semi-wrapping role on the vertebral plate, with a large contact area and a firm connection.

[0038] Reference Figure 4b , shows a third type of artificial yellow ligament complex provided by this embodiment, which includes a first fixing seat 2a and a second fixing seat 2b, wherein the first fixing seat 2a is L-shaped, the second fixing seat 2b is flat, and both are provided with array-distributed microholes 22 at the bottom. The first fixing seat 2b of this type is suitable for installation in a location with a larger installation space, while the second fixing seat 2b is suitable for installation in a narrower location.

[0039] Reference Figure 4c , shows the fourth type of artificial yellow ligament complex provided in this embodiment, which includes a first fixing seat 2a and a second fixing seat 2b. The bottom side of the first fixing seat 2a and the second fixing seat 2b both extend downward with a sharp cone or barb. This type of fixing seat 2 is suitable for installation in a narrower position, and the sharp cone or barb can be embedded in the vertebral plate to form a mosaic structure, which can prevent the artificial ligament 1 from retracting under long-term tension.

[0040] In other embodiments, reference Figure 5 The pore structure may also be a plurality of grooves 23 opened at the bottom of the fixing seat 2, and the plurality of grooves 23 are distributed in a crisscross manner.

[0041] By providing a porous structure at the bottom of the fixing seat 2, the growth and attachment of bone cells can be promoted, the bone integration effect can be improved, postoperative complications can be reduced, and long-term stability can be ensured.

[0042] In order to improve the biocompatibility of the artificial yellow ligament complex with human bone tissue, the surfaces of the fixing seat 2 and the micropores 22 of this embodiment are modified and attached with a substance that promotes bone fusion.

[0043] In other embodiments, the surface of the fixing seat 2 is further provided with a magnesium or tantalum alloy coating to facilitate the bone integration of the fixing seat 2 and the vertebral plate.

[0044] In this embodiment, the artificial ligament 1 includes at least one braided belt, which is made of the same or different biocompatible polymer materials (such as polyethylene, polyurethane, etc.), made into silk threads and then woven. It has sufficient strength and elasticity to simulate the function of the natural yellow ligament.

[0045] Further, in order to strengthen the connection strength between the fixing seat 2 and the artificial ligament 1, refer to Figure 6 The end of the fixing seat 2 is provided with a fixing groove 24, and a fixing column 25 is provided in the fixing groove 24. Preferably, referring to Figure 7 The artificial ligament 1 is annular, and its two ends extend into the fixing grooves 24 of the two fixing seats 2 respectively, and are wound around the fixing posts 25. In practical applications, the artificial ligament 1 can be formed into an annular shape by suturing, fusion or injection molding. Since the artificial ligament 1 is designed as a plurality of closed annular structures, the artificial ligament 1 is prevented from being separated from the fixing seats 2, and the firmness of the connection between the two is improved.

[0046] The manufacturing process of the artificial yellow ligament complex in this embodiment:

[0047] First, the size of the artificial yellow ligament complex is designed according to the patient's spinal anatomical structure. The artificial ligament 1 is made by injection molding or 3D printing technology to ensure the accuracy of its form and function. The fixing seat 2 is accurately manufactured by metal processing technology, and the pore structure can be achieved by laser drilling or etching technology.

[0048] The implantation surgical procedure of the artificial yellow ligament complex in this embodiment is as follows:

[0049] During the operation, the damaged yellow ligament is located and exposed through traditional spinal surgery methods, and the artificial yellow ligament complex is fixed to the vertebra using special tools and screws. After the operation, the patient can undergo appropriate rehabilitation training to promote bone integration.

[0050] In summary, the artificial yellow ligament complex used in this embodiment has good biocompatibility, strength and the function of promoting bone integration. When the artificial yellow ligament complex of this embodiment is installed on the spine, it can replace the removal or repair of the damaged yellow ligament during surgery, maintain the mechanical stability of the spine, and cover the dura mater to reduce postoperative dura mater scars. Compared with traditional yellow ligament reconstruction or repair surgery, the application of the artificial yellow ligament complex of this embodiment can improve the stability of the patient's spine, reduce postoperative instability, protect the dura mater and nerves in the spinal canal, reduce scar adhesion, and improve postoperative clinical effects.

[0051] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An artificial yellow ligament complex, used for reconstruction of the yellow ligament of the human spine, characterized in that: It comprises an artificial ligament and two fixing seats, wherein the two ends of the artificial ligament are respectively fixedly connected to the two fixing seats; screw holes are arranged on the two fixing seats, and the two fixing seats are fixedly connected to the spine by inserting screws into their respective screw holes.

2. The artificial yellow ligament complex according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two fixing seats have a pore structure, which includes a plurality of micropores opened at the bottom of the fixing seats. The porosity of the micropores is 50% to 80%, and the pore diameter is 100 μm to 500 μm.

3. The artificial yellow ligament complex according to claim 2, characterized in that: The fixing seat and the microporous surface are modified and attached with bone fusion promoting substances.

4. The artificial yellow ligament complex according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two fixing seats have a pore structure, and the pore structure includes a plurality of grooves opened at the bottom of the fixing seats.

5. The artificial yellow ligament complex according to claim 1, characterized in that: The artificial yellow ligament comprises at least one braided belt, and the braided belt is braided by making silk threads from the same or different biocompatible polymer materials.

6. The artificial yellow ligament complex according to claim 1, characterized in that: The end of the fixing seat is provided with a fixing groove, and the end of the artificial ligament extends into and is fixed in the fixing groove.

7. The artificial yellow ligament complex according to claim 6, characterized in that: A fixing column is arranged in the fixing groove, and the artificial ligament is in a ring shape, with two ends of the artificial ligament respectively wound around the fixing columns of the two fixing seats.

8. The artificial yellow ligament complex according to claim 7, characterized in that: The artificial yellow ligament is formed into a ring shape by suturing, fusion or injection molding.

9. The artificial yellow ligament complex according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fixing seat is made of titanium alloy.

10. The artificial yellow ligament complex according to claim 1, characterized in that: A pointed cone or barb extends downward from the bottom of the fixing seat.

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