Spinal cord window

Abstract

The spinal cord window comprises a main body plate frame, the upper side and the lower side of the main body plate frame are provided with an installation end face and a positioning face which are parallel to each other respectively, the middle of the main body plate frame is provided with a vertically-through observation window, and a transparent imaging medium is installed in the observation window to form an imaging window. The bottom end of the observation window extends outwards in the radial direction to form an annular limiting part, an annular groove is formed between the annular limiting part and the positioning face, the annular limiting part, the annular groove and the positioning face are matched with one another to form a limiting structure, and fixing channels communicated with the observation window are formed in the positions, corresponding to the front side and the rear side of the observation window, of the bottom of the body plate frame correspondingly. Screw holes extending leftwards and rightwards are formed in the front side and the rear side of the main body plate frame correspondingly and used for being matched with drill holes in the vertebral spinous process. The spinal cord window can form a stable and clear imaging interface which is stable for a long time and does not deform or shift at the observation window, and continuous observation of a spinal cord injury part is realized.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of biomedical experimental equipment, in particular to a spinal cord window. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the preparation and research process of spinal cord injury (SCI) animal models, in order to realize continuous observation of the spinal cord function recovery process, it is often necessary to establish a stable, transparent and long-term imaging spinal cord window structure.

[0003] In the prior art, researchers usually directly expose the spinal cord after removing the lamina, and use temporary covering materials or simple colloid to seal the exposed area, and then perform short-time imaging. However, this method has the following problems: (1) There is a lack of effective limiting between the observation window and the spinal cord surface, which is easy to be displaced or compressed due to animal activity, and usually requires a larger space or a strong external fixation device, which interferes with the surrounding tissues (such as soft tissues, ligaments, etc.).

[0004] (2) The observation window is easily affected by the surrounding tissues or physiological changes of the patient, and is prone to deformation and displacement, which cannot maintain a stable and clear imaging interface for a long time, and thus cannot realize continuous observation of the spinal cord injury site. SUMMARY

[0005] Therefore, the present application provides a spinal cord window to solve the above technical problems.

[0006] To achieve the above purpose, the technical scheme provided by the present application is as follows: a spinal cord window, comprising a main body frame, the upper and lower sides of the main body frame are respectively provided with mutually parallel mounting end faces and positioning faces, the middle part of the main body frame is provided with an observation window which penetrates upward and downward, a transparent imaging medium is installed in the observation window to form an imaging window, the bottom end of the observation window extends radially outward to form an annular limiting portion, an annular groove is formed between the annular limiting portion and the positioning face, the annular limiting portion, the annular groove and the positioning face cooperate with each other to form a limiting structure for fitting the lamina incision edge, the bottom of the main body frame is provided with a fixed channel which is in communication with the observation window on the front and rear sides of the observation window, the fixed channel is used for fixed fitting with the exposed area of the spinal cord after the lamina is removed, the front and rear sides of the main body frame are respectively provided with left and right extending screw holes, the screw holes are used for cooperating with the drill holes on the spinous process of the vertebral body, and the main body frame is fixed on the surface of the vertebral body by micro screws which are screwed through the screw holes and the drill holes on the spinous process of the vertebral body.

[0007] Preferably, the fixed channel comprises a U-shaped channel with the opening downward and a limiting step on the left and right sides below the U-shaped channel, and the limiting step is used for limiting the sinking depth of the observation window.

[0008] Preferably, the limiting steps on the left and right sides are multi-stage, and the limiting steps on the left and right sides gradually move away from the top to the bottom.

[0009] Preferably, the main body plate frame is a titanium alloy main body plate frame.

[0010] Preferably, the edge of the mounting end face is provided with a circular arc chamfer.

[0011] Preferably, a transparent imaging medium is installed in the observation window.

[0012] Preferably, the transparent imaging medium is a transparent glass sheet, a resin lens or an optically transparent adhesive.

[0013] Preferably, the transparent imaging medium is fixedly connected with the main body plate frame through a medical adhesive material.

[0014] Preferably, the observation window is a circular hole, and the diameter of the observation window is 6-10mm.

[0015] The present application has the following beneficial effects: (1) The present application is provided with screw holes extending left and right on the front and rear sides of the main body plate frame, so that the spinal cord window can be firmly installed in the drilled hole on the spinous process of the vertebral body, and the overall stability is higher. The annular limiting portion, the annular groove and the positioning surface are matched to form a limiting structure for fitting the lamina resection margin and a fixed channel, so that the main body plate frame can be stably fitted in the limited vertebral body exposure area, which can prevent displacement or compression caused by animal activity, and the structure is compact and occupies small space, without the need for a large space or a powerful external fixation device, avoiding interference with the surrounding tissues (such as soft tissues, ligaments, etc.).

[0016] (2) By providing an observation window and installing an optical transparent piece in the observation window, a stable, non-deformable, non-displaced and stable clear imaging interface can be formed at the observation window, which prevents the influence of the surrounding tissues or the physiological changes of the patient, and realizes continuous observation of the spinal cord injury site. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 is a structural schematic view of the spinal cord window of the embodiment of the present application from one perspective.

[0018] Figure 2 is a structural schematic view of the spinal cord window of the embodiment of the present application from another perspective.

[0019] Figure 3 is a top view of the spinal cord window of the embodiment of the present application.

[0020] Figure 4 is Figure 3 a sectional view at A-A in FIG.

[0021] Figure 5 yes Figure 3 Sectional view at point BB.

[0022] The attached diagram is labeled as follows: 1 Main frame, 2 Mounting end face, 3 Positioning surface, 4 Observation window, 5 Annular limiting part, 6 Annular groove, 7 Fixing channel, 71 U-shaped channel, 72 Limiting step, 8 Screw hole, 9 Rounded chamfer. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To further illustrate the various embodiments, the present invention provides accompanying drawings. These drawings are part of the disclosure of the present invention, primarily used to illustrate the embodiments and to explain the operating principles of the embodiments in conjunction with the relevant descriptions in the specification. Those skilled in the art will be able to understand other possible variations of this device after reading them. Components in the drawings are not drawn to scale, and similar component symbols are generally used to represent similar parts.

[0024] The present invention will now be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0025] See Figures 1-5 As shown, as an embodiment of the present invention, a spinal cord window is provided for use in rat experiments to form a stable, transparent, and long-term imaging window for the exposed spinal cord after the removal of the vertebral laminae. The spinal cord window includes a rectangular main frame 1. The upper and lower sides of the main frame 1 are respectively provided with parallel mounting end faces 2 and positioning faces 3. The mounting end faces 2 are used to attach to the smoothed vertebral bone surface. The middle of the main frame 1 is provided with a vertically penetrating observation window 4. An optically transparent element is installed in the observation window 4 to form a stable imaging window. The bottom end of the observation window 4 extends radially outward to form an annular limiting part 5. The annular limiting part 5 and the positioning face 3 are connected. An annular groove 6 is formed, and the annular limiting part 5, the annular groove 6 and the positioning surface 3 cooperate with each other to form a limiting structure for fitting the cutting edge of the lamina, so that the spinal window can be stably embedded into the spinal cord exposure cavity. The bottom of the main plate frame 1 is provided with a fixing channel 7 that communicates with the observation window 4 on the front and rear sides respectively. The fixing channel 7 is used to fix and fit the spinal cord exposure area after the lamina is removed. The front and rear sides of the main plate frame 1 are provided with screw holes 8 that extend to the left and right for matching with the drill holes (pre-drilled screw holes) on the spinous process of the vertebral body. The main plate frame 1 is fixed to the vertebral body surface by threading the micro screw through the screw hole 8 and the drill hole on the spinous process of the vertebral body.

[0026] Compared with existing methods that use temporary covering materials or simple colloids to seal the exposed area and then perform short-term imaging, the spinal window of the present invention can significantly improve experimental stability and prevent interference with surrounding tissues (such as soft tissues, ligaments, etc.). Specific advantages are as follows: (1) The present application is characterized in that screw holes 8 extending left and right are arranged on the front and back of the main plate frame 1, so that the spinal cord window can be firmly installed in the drill hole on the spinous process of the vertebral body, and the overall stability is higher. The annular limiting portion 5, the annular groove 6, and the positioning surface 3 are arranged to form a limiting structure for fitting the vertebral plate incision edge and a fixing channel 7, so that the main plate frame 1 can be firmly fitted in the limited vertebral body exposure area, and displacement or compression caused by animal activity can be prevented. The structure is compact, occupies small space, and does not require a large space or a powerful external fixing device, thereby avoiding interference with the surrounding tissues (such as soft tissues, ligaments, etc.).

[0027] (2) The observation window 4 and the optical transparent piece installed in the observation window 4 are arranged, so that a stable, non-deformable, non-displaced, and stable clear imaging interface can be formed at the observation window 4, which can prevent the influence of the surrounding tissues or the physiological changes of the patient, and realize continuous observation of the spinal cord injury site.

[0028] In the embodiment, the fixing channel 7 includes a U-shaped channel 71 with an opening downward and limiting steps 72 arranged on the left and right sides below the U-shaped channel 71. The limiting steps 72 are used to limit the sinking depth of the observation window 4.

[0029] In the embodiment, the limiting steps 72 on the left and right sides are multi-stage, and the limiting steps 72 on the left and right sides gradually move away from the setting from top to bottom, that is, the opening size of the fixing channel 7 gradually increases from top to bottom. The fixing channel 7 is provided with multi-stage limiting steps 72 according to the depth of the exposed spinal cord, so as to prevent the spinal cord window from excessively compressing the spinal cord tissue.

[0030] In the embodiment, the main plate frame 1 is made of titanium alloy, so as to reduce the influence of long-term implantation on animal activity and improve the structural stability.

[0031] In the embodiment, the edge of the mounting end surface 2 is provided with a circular arc chamfer 9, so as to reduce the pulling injury and mechanical interference of the muscle and surrounding soft tissue during implantation, and ensure more stable and reliable operation.

[0032] In the embodiment, the transparent imaging medium is installed in the observation window 4. Specifically, the transparent imaging medium is a transparent glass sheet, a resin lens, or an optical transparent glue, which serves as a long-term stable imaging interface.

[0033] In the embodiment, the transparent imaging medium is fixedly connected with the main plate frame 1 by a medical adhesive material.

[0034] In this embodiment, the screw hole 8 is vertically through, so that the micro screw passes through the screw hole 8 and is screwed and fixed in the hole drilled on the spinous process of the vertebral body, so that the main body plate frame 1 can be firmly pressed and attached to the surface of the vertebral body through the micro screw, thereby realizing the stable positioning of the spinal cord window on the bony structure. Through this four-point positioning method, the mechanical stability of the observation window 4 can be maintained in long-term experiments, and the imaging consistency is improved.

[0035] In this embodiment, the observation window 4 is a circular hole, and the diameter of the observation window 4 is 6-10 mm, specifically 8 mm, which is suitable for the size of the exposed area of the spinal cord of the T12 segment of the rat to ensure a complete observation field of view.

[0036] Although the present application is shown and described in connection with preferred embodiments, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that modifications in form and detail can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the application as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A spinal window, characterized by: The main body frame is provided with mutually parallel mounting end faces and positioning faces on its upper and lower sides, and a through observation window is arranged in the middle of the main body frame, a transparent imaging medium is arranged in the observation window to form an imaging window, a radially outwardly extending annular limiting portion is formed at the bottom end of the observation window, an annular groove is formed between the annular limiting portion and the positioning face, and the annular limiting portion, the annular groove and the positioning face cooperatively form a limiting structure for fitting the lamina resection edge, fixed channels are arranged on the front and rear sides of the main body frame corresponding to the observation window, the fixed channels are in communication with the observation window and are used for fixed fitting with the exposed spinal cord area after the lamina is removed, screw holes are arranged on the left and right sides of the main body frame, the screw holes are used for cooperation with the drill holes on the vertebral spinous process, and micro screws are used for threadedly connecting the screw holes and the drill holes on the vertebral spinous process to fix the main body frame on the vertebral surface.

2. The spinal cord window of claim 1, wherein: The fixed channel comprises a U-shaped channel with an opening downward and limiting steps arranged on the left and right sides below the U-shaped channel, and the limiting steps are used for limiting the sinking depth of the observation window.

3. The spinal cord window of claim 2, wherein: The limiting steps on the left and right sides are multi-stage, and the limiting steps on the left and right sides gradually move away from each other from top to bottom.

4. The spinal cord window of claim 1, wherein: The main body frame is a titanium alloy main body frame.

5. The spinal cord window of claim 1, wherein: The edge of the mounting end face is provided with a circular arc chamfer.

6. The spinal cord window of claim 1, wherein: A transparent imaging medium is arranged in the observation window.

7. The spinal cord window of claim 6, wherein: The transparent imaging medium is a transparent glass sheet, a resin lens or an optical transparent adhesive.

8. The spinal cord window of claim 6, wherein: The transparent imaging medium is fixedly connected with the main body frame by a medical adhesive material.

9. The spinal cord window of claim 1, wherein: The observation window is a circular hole, and the diameter of the observation window is 6-10 mm.

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