Articulatable Fusion Cage Navigating Ilium Obstruction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current lateral approach fusion implants face challenges in accessing the L4-L5 and L5-S1 intervertebral spaces due to bony obstacles and steep approach angles, leading to invasive procedures and difficulty in inserting inflexible fusion cages.
Innovation Solution
A flexible and articulatable fusion cage device that can bend and articulate, combined with oblique curved access tools, allowing for a non-perpendicular approach to navigate around bony obstacles and reduce tissue damage, enabling easier implantation through an oblique path that curves tangent to the Ilium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a direct lateral approach is used to access L4-L5 and L5-S1 intervertebral spaces, then the approach path is straightforward, but the Ilium obstructs access and causes significant tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a curved approach path that arcs around the Ilium bone rather than attempting direct lateral access. This curved trajectory allows the surgical instrument to navigate around the bony obstacle, reducing direct contact with and damage to the Ilium and surrounding soft tissue while still reaching the target intervertebral space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional lateral approach to a three-dimensional curved approach. By utilizing the additional spatial dimension, the surgical path can arc around the Ilium obstruction, providing access to the intervertebral space without requiring direct lateral penetration through the bone and reducing tissue trauma.
2Ease of operation
If a steep approach angle is used for lateral fusion surgery, then line of site access is achieved, but the ability to insert implants of sufficient length is severely limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a curved approach path that gradually angles toward the intervertebral space rather than approaching at a steep angle. This curved trajectory allows surgical instruments and implants of sufficient length to be inserted while maintaining an acceptable working angle at the target site, overcoming the limitation imposed by steep approach angles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic approach where the angle of entry is adjusted along the curved path. The approach angle is shallow at the entry point and gradually increases as the instrument approaches the target, allowing both adequate access and insertion of implants with sufficient length to span the intervertebral space.
3Strength
If a monolithic inflexible fusion cage is used, then structural support is provided, but the implant cannot navigate around bony obstacles during insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the fusion cage into multiple articulated segments that can flex relative to one another. This segmentation allows the implant to bend and conform to the curved approach path, navigating around bony obstacles like the Ilium during insertion. Once positioned, the segments can be locked together to provide the necessary structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic implant design where the fusion cage transitions from a flexible, articulatable state during insertion to a rigid, locked state after positioning. The articulated segments allow the implant to bend and follow the curved surgical path, then can be secured in a fixed configuration to provide stable structural support for spinal fusion.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods for orthopedic support are disclosed. The device can have a first rigid section hingedly attached to a second rigid section. The device can be curved or rotated around obstructions along an access path to a target site. The device can be delivered to an intervertebral location in a patient.