Adjustable Cervical Plate System for Variable Vertebral Spacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional anterior cervical plating systems face challenges in accommodating varying vertebral body sizes and spacings, leading to high inventory costs and potential distraction pseudoarthrosis due to rigidity and lack of motion allowance, which can result in incomplete fusion and instability.
Innovation Solution
An anterior cervical plating system featuring vertebral body engaging anchors with adjustable spacing and a connecting plate that allows for compressive loading and controlled motion between vertebral bodies to facilitate fusion while preventing unwanted motion, thereby reducing inventory needs and enhancing stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional fixed-length plates with fixed screw hole spacing are used to accommodate varying vertebral body sizes and spacings, then coverage of all possible size combinations is attempted, but inventory requirements explode to as many as sixty different plate sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The plate is divided into multiple modular segments that can be combined in different configurations. Each segment contains screw holes at specific positions, and segments can be assembled in series to create plates of various lengths and spacing patterns, replacing the need for sixty fixed-length plate varieties.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate incorporates adjustable components that allow dynamic reconfiguration of screw hole spacing and plate length. This enables a single plate design to adapt to different vertebral body sizes and spacings through mechanical adjustment rather than requiring fixed designs for each configuration.
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid plates with fixed screw positions are used to provide stability, then alignment and stability are achieved, but distraction pseudoarthrosis occurs when bone resorption creates gaps that the rigid hardware cannot close
Solution Approach 1:
The plate incorporates dynamic elements that allow controlled movement and adjustment of screw positions relative to the plate body. This enables the hardware to adapt to bone resorption and gap formation during fusion, allowing bones to move together to close gaps while maintaining overall stability through the plate's structural support.
3Strength
If bone screws are locked rigidly to the plate to prevent backing out, then screw stability is improved, but distraction pseudoarthrosis is caused when the rigid constraint prevents bone parts from moving together to close gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The screw-plate connection incorporates dynamic elements that allow controlled movement between the screw and plate. This enables the screw to remain secured to the plate (preventing backing out) while simultaneously allowing relative movement that permits bone parts to close gaps during fusion, resolving the contradiction between screw stability and fusion success.
4Adaptability or versatility
If plates are manufactured in many different lengths and spacing configurations to cover all vertebral body sizes, then adaptability to patient anatomy is improved, but manufacturing complexity and inventory costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The plate is segmented into standardized modules that can be combined in various configurations. This reduces manufacturing complexity by producing a limited set of component parts rather than sixty complete plate varieties, while still achieving comprehensive anatomical coverage through modular assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular plate segments are designed with universal interfaces and standardized features that allow them to function in multiple positions and configurations. A single segment design can serve multiple purposes in different combinations, reducing the total number of unique components needed while maintaining anatomical versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
A plating system includes bone portion engaging anchors coupled to a connecting plate in moveable relationship to vary the spacing between the anchoring points of the plating system to the bone portions. The plating system includes instrumentation and method for installation thereof. The plating system is capable of both passive and active dynamization and the ability to produce the former from the latter.