Arched Bone Contacting Elements for Spinal Fusion Implants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal fusion implants lack optimal designs for promoting bone growth and stability between vertebrae, particularly in providing a structure that allows for minimal deformation under pressure and sufficient space for bone ingrowth while maintaining spine alignment.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a body with arched bone contacting elements oriented at different angles and support beams, forming a lattice-like structure that spans an interior region, allowing for bone growth promotion and stability through a combination of arched elements and a peripheral structure that tapers to fit between vertebral bodies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a solid implant structure is used to provide stability, then stability is improved, but bone ingrowth space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into multiple arched bone contacting elements that are spaced apart, creating a segmented structure. This segmentation allows the implant to maintain stability through the arch elements while creating interconnected spaces for bone ingrowth, resolving the contradiction between stability and bone growth space.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant features varying structural densities in different regions - the arched bone contacting elements provide localized stability where needed, while the spaces between elements provide bone ingrowth pathways. This local differentiation allows simultaneous optimization of stability and bone growth capability.
2Reliability
If the implant structure is made more complex to promote bone growth, then bone growth promotion is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The arched bone contacting elements utilize curved geometries that naturally promote bone growth through their shape. The curvature of the arches creates favorable stress distribution patterns and surface area for bone attachment, promoting bone growth without requiring complex internal structures or multiple components.
Solution Approach 2:
The arched bone contacting elements serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide structural stability, create bone ingrowth spaces, and promote bone growth through their curved geometry. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
3Reliability
If arched bone contacting elements are added to the implant, then bone growth is promoted, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The arched bone contacting elements are integrated with the implant body as a unified structure rather than separate components. This merging allows the arches to be formed in a single manufacturing process, reducing assembly steps and minimizing the increase in manufacturing complexity while still providing the bone growth benefits.
Data Source
AI summary
An implant including a body with a peripheral structure and a first arched bone contacting element. The peripheral structure has a superior surface configured to face an endplate of a vertebral body when the implant is implanted into an intervertebral space. In addition, the first arched bone contacting element includes an arched portion and at least one flared leg attached to the peripheral structure, wherein the first arched bone contacting element extends in a superior direction from the superior surface of the peripheral structure. The at least one flared leg includes a first portion attached to the body and a second portion proximate the arched portion, wherein the first portion has a first cross-sectional shape and wherein the second portion has a second cross-sectional shape that is different than the first portion cross-sectional shape, wherein the first cross-sectional shape is elliptic and the second cross-sectional shape is approximately circular.