Adjustable Distal End for Spine Interbody Introducer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical instruments for implanting artificial disc replacements in orthopedic spine surgery lack ease of use, effectiveness, durability, and the ability to safely introduce and disengage interbody devices without causing further anatomical damage.
Innovation Solution
A novel surgical instrument with an adjustable angle distal end that securely grasps and introduces an interbody into an intervertebral space, allowing for easy disengagement and repeated angle adjustments, ensuring safe and effective implantation without interfering with the patient's anatomy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a surgical instrument securely grasps an interbody device for implantation, then the interbody placement precision is improved, but the instrument may be difficult to disengage from the implanted interbody
Solution Approach 1:
The distal end of the introducer is made dynamically adjustable, allowing it to be selectively directed to different angles away from the longitudinal axis and locked in those configurations. This dynamic capability enables the instrument to adapt to anatomical variations while maintaining secure grasping, and facilitates easy disengagement after implantation by allowing angle adjustment to release the interbody device.
Solution Approach 2:
The angle of the distal end relative to the longitudinal axis is changed as a key parameter. The distal end can be selectively directed to at least one angle away from the longitudinal axis and locked in that configuration, allowing parameter adjustment to optimize both secure grasping during implantation and easy disengagement after placement.
2Device complexity
If the surgical instrument has a fixed distal end design, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to different anatomical angles and positions
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than creating a completely complex multi-component system, the invention introduces a controlled dynamic element at the distal end that can be selectively directed to different angles and locked. This provides anatomical adaptability while maintaining relative structural simplicity through a focused dynamic design rather than overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The introducer is segmented into distinct functional zones: the longitudinal shaft portion and the adjustable distal end. This segmentation allows the distal end to independently adapt to different anatomical angles while the main shaft remains structurally simple, achieving versatility without overwhelming complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the instrument repeatedly adjusts angles during implantation, then the adaptability to anatomical variations is improved, but the operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The distal end is pre-configured with locking capability that allows it to be selectively directed to specific angles and locked in those configurations. This preliminary action of locking at the desired angle eliminates the need for repeated adjustments during the implantation process, reducing operation time while maintaining adaptability to anatomical variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The controlled dynamic adjustment with locking mechanism allows for efficient angle changes only when anatomically necessary, rather than continuous adjustment. The locking feature stabilizes the distal end at optimal angles, reducing operation time by eliminating repeated adjustments while maintaining the ability to adapt to anatomical variations when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a surgical instrument having an adjustable distal end that can securely engage an interbody for introduction of the interbody into an intervertebral space, can be adjusted before and during the surgical procedure to vary the angle of the distal end of the device and the angle of introduction of the interbody, and after positioning that interbody at the surgical site, can be easily disengaged and removed.