ALIF Interbody Cage With Retained Bone Screw Anchoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) implants and surgical procedures lack effective anchoring mechanisms to securely anchor interbody cages to vertebral bone, leading to potential dislodgment and suboptimal fusion outcomes.
Innovation Solution
Development of ALIF implants with porous cages and anchoring members, such as barbs or screws, and installation instruments featuring an inserter and anchoring member retention components, ensuring secure anchoring and compression of the implant within vertebral bone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional interbody cages are used without anchoring members, then the implant structure remains simple, but the cage can be dislodged and anchoring is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the interbody cage with anchoring members (screws or barbs) into a single integrated implant unit. The anchoring members are pre-positioned within the cage structure, merging two previously separate components (cage and anchors) into one unified device that provides both structural support and secure anchoring to vertebral bone.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchoring members are pre-positioned and retained within the cage during the insertion process. The retention component holds the anchoring members in place before implantation, ensuring they are ready for immediate engagement with the vertebral bone upon deployment, eliminating the need for separate anchoring steps.
2Reliability
If anchoring members are inserted without retention components, then the implantation process is simpler, but anchoring members can back out and security is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The retention component (such as a spring-loaded clamp or friction-fit mechanism) is designed to hold the anchoring members securely within the cage before insertion. This pre-retention mechanism prevents the anchoring members from moving or backing out during the implantation process, providing a safety buffer against positioning errors or accidental dislodgment.
3Reliability
If bone graft is placed without compression, then the implantation is less complex, but fusion outcomes are suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The compression function is merged into the anchoring member insertion process. As the anchoring members are driven into the vertebral bone, they simultaneously compress the bone graft material contained within the cage against the vertebral endplates, achieving both anchoring and compression in a single action.
Solution Approach 2:
The bone graft material is pre-loaded into the cage before insertion. The cage is prepared with the appropriate amount and type of bone graft (autograft, allograft, or synthetic substitute) positioned and compressed within the cage structure prior to implantation, ready for immediate compression against the vertebral surfaces upon deployment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The described implants and instruments provide enhanced stability and security of the ALIF implants, preventing back-out of anchoring members and promoting better fusion by segmental compression, thereby improving the success of lumbar fusion procedures.
Implementation Method 1
Each ALIF cage is characterized by a porous body
Implementation Method 2
anchoring members, such as barbs or screws, and installation instruments featuring an inserter and anchoring member retention components
Data Source
AI summary
An implant includes an interbody device having a front, a rear, a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a central cavity, and a plurality of bores extending into the rear of the interbody device, each arced bore being configured to receive an arced anchoring member.