Adjustable Spinal Implant Monolithic Engagement Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spinal and trauma surgery implants with adjustable axial length lack safety features to prevent accidental disengagement and loss of engagement members during surgery, complicating the surgical process.
Innovation Solution
The implant design includes a monolithic engagement member with a collar and abutment that prevents disengagement, ensuring the engagement member remains securely attached to the first member, and is encased between the first and second members to prevent escape, enhancing safety and simplicity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the engagement member is designed to be removable for length adjustment, then the implant can be adjusted to desired length, but the engagement member may be inadvertently disengaged and lost in the patient's body
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement member is nested within a recess in the first member, with a collar that engages with the recess walls. This nesting structure allows the engagement member to be partially inserted for length adjustment while preventing complete removal, thus enabling adjustment capability while ensuring retention safety.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the engagement member is locked in place with locking screws, then the implant length is fixed, but the design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collar of the engagement member self-engages with the recess in the first member through a snap-fit or friction-fit mechanism. This self-locking design eliminates the need for separate locking screws or complex fastening mechanisms, achieving length stability while maintaining design simplicity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the engagement member is made monolithic with collar and abutment, then manufacturing is simplified, but the ability to adjust length may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The monolithic engagement member incorporates a dynamic collar that can rotate or slide within the recess during adjustment, then lock into position. This dynamic mechanism within a single-piece design maintains manufacturing simplicity while enabling sufficient length adjustment range through controlled movement of the collar component.
Data Source
AI summary
An implant for the application in spinal or trauma surgery is provided that has a variable axial length, the implant including a first member and a second member guided relative to the first member to be movable relative thereto in an axial direction for adjusting an overall length of the implant; and at least one engagement member that is in a first configuration configured to engage the first member and the second member such that the first member and the second member are locked with respect to each other and in a second configuration configured to engage the first member such that the second member is movable with respect to the first member; wherein, in the second configuration, the engagement member is configured to be secured against disengagement from the first member by an abutment, and wherein the engagement member is a monolithic part.