Adjustable Artificial Cervical Vertebra with Spherical Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cervical vertebra surgeries, especially fusion surgeries, result in loss of movability and subsequent adjacent segment degeneration, as existing artificial vertebras lack adjustability and fail to restore normal vertebral height and biomechanics.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable complex of an artificial cervical vertebra and intervertebral connector with a vertebra body connected by a screw thread and spherical joint structures, allowing for adjustable length and four degrees of freedom, including forward and backward translation, to mimic natural vertebral movement and support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If fusion surgery is performed to stabilize the cervical vertebra, then postoperative stabilization is improved, but movability of the vertebra is lost and adjacent segment degeneration occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The artificial cervical vertebra is divided into an upper vertebra body and a lower vertebra body that can move relative to each other through spherical joint structures, allowing the device to provide stabilization while preserving segmental motion to prevent adjacent segment degeneration
Solution Approach 2:
The artificial vertebra incorporates spherical joint structures that enable dynamic movement between the upper and lower vertebra bodies, transforming the device from a static rigid structure to a dynamic one that can adapt to physiological movements while maintaining stability
2Stability of the object's composition
If a fixed-length artificial vertebra is used for bracing and fixing, then instant stabilization is achieved, but vertebral height restoration is limited and surgical adaptability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The artificial vertebra employs a dynamic length adjustment mechanism where the distance between the upper and lower vertebra bodies can be modified through spherical joint structures, enabling the device to adapt to different vertebral height requirements while maintaining instant stabilization capability
Solution Approach 2:
The device allows for parameter changes in length and orientation through the spherical joint structures, enabling surgeons to adjust the artificial vertebra to match the specific anatomical requirements of each patient, thereby improving surgical adaptability and vertebral height restoration
3Manufacturing precision
If a hollowed adjustable titanium alloy artificial vertebra with internal bone graft is used, then vertebral height can be restored and fusion is promoted, but stress shielding and bone resorption occur due to rigid mounting
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical joint structures create a dynamic connection between the upper and lower vertebra bodies, allowing relative movement that prevents rigid mounting and thereby reduces stress shielding and bone resorption while maintaining the ability to restore vertebral height
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates different structural characteristics in different regions: the upper and lower vertebra bodies have specific configurations for bone graft placement and integration, while the spherical joint structures provide localized flexibility to reduce stress concentration and prevent bone resorption
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable complex of an artificial cervical vertebra and an intervertebral connector includes: a vertebra body; and two end plates respectively connected to a top end and a bottom end of the vertebra body by spherical joint structures; wherein the vertebra body comprises: an upper vertebra body; and a lower vertebra body; wherein the upper vertebra body is axially connected to the lower vertebra body by a screw thread; a plurality of radial screw holes are correspondingly provided on side surfaces of the upper vertebra body and the lower vertebra body; a length-fixing screw is provided though the radial screw holes of the upper vertebra body and the lower vertebra body; wherein end plate fixing screws are respectively provided on the two end plates. The adjustable complex has a support function of an artificial vertebra and movability of an artificial intervertebral disc.