Anchor Insertion Instrument for Annular Defect Closure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional orthopaedic surgical procedures face challenges in effectively addressing anatomical defects, particularly in lumbar microdiscectomy, where the standard technique does not close the annular defect, leading to potential reherniation and associated pain, and existing expandable implants lack efficient mechanisms for secure fixation and tissue approximation.
Innovation Solution
An insertion instrument is designed to eject anchors with expandable bodies that collapse along one direction and expand perpendicularly, allowing for secure anchoring and approximation of anatomical defects by tensioning actuation strands across the defect site, thereby preventing reherniation and enhancing tissue stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional expandable implants are used to treat annular defects, then the surgical procedure can be performed, but the implants fail to effectively secure the defect leading to post-operative reherniation or disc height collapse
Solution Approach 1:
The implant system is divided into multiple separate anchors (typically two anchors on opposite sides of the defect) rather than a single continuous implant. Each anchor can be independently deployed and secured, allowing for more reliable defect closure while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The anchors are deployed in a nested sequence where one anchor is inserted and secured, then the second anchor is inserted through or alongside the first anchor's delivery system. This nested deployment approach allows complex multi-component fixation to be achieved through a single access point without proportionally increasing procedural complexity
2Reliability
If extensive debulking is performed to minimize reherniation risk, then the risk of reherniation decreases, but the risk of disc height collapse and progression to lower back pain increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anchors are positioned specifically at the margins of the annular defect rather than requiring extensive removal of nucleus material. This localized fixation approach secures the defect edges together while preserving the remaining disc height and nucleus material, preventing both reherniation and disc collapse
Solution Approach 2:
The anchors are deployed and secured in advance to approximate and stabilize the annular defect edges before completing the surgical procedure. This preliminary stabilization allows the surgeon to minimize debulking while ensuring the defect is secured, preventing subsequent reherniation without compromising disc height
3Ease of operation
If a single anchor is deployed, then the implantation process is simpler, but the fixation is insufficient to prevent separation at the anatomical defect
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation system uses multiple discrete anchors (typically two) positioned on opposite sides of the annular defect. This segmentation provides balanced, opposing forces that securely approximate the defect edges, preventing separation more effectively than a single anchor while maintaining relatively simple deployment procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple anchors are connected by a continuous suture or tether that spans across the defect. This merging of separate anchors into a unified fixation system creates a tensioned bridge that securely holds the defect edges together, providing reliable fixation that exceeds what any single anchor could achieve alone
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1D
Figure 1E~1F
AI summary
An insertion instrument is configured to eject a pair of anchor bodies across an anatomical gap so as to approximate the gap. The insertion instrument can include a single cannula that retains the pair of anchor bodies in a stacked relationship, or a pair of adjacent cannulas that each retain respective anchor bodies. The insertion instrument can be actuated so as to eject the anchor bodies into respective target anatomical locations.