Articulated Surgical Instruments for MIS Disc Space Preparation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional manual instruments for disc space preparation in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) are limited by the small access opening, making it difficult to effectively prepare the disc space for implantation of fusion or replacement implants.
Innovation Solution
Articulated instruments that combine rotatory and angular motion, allowing for broader tissue disruption and improved alignment with the endplate, featuring mechanisms like pivoted levers or rotating knobs for controlled tip deflection and a range of angled configurations up to 120°.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional manual straight or curved instruments are used for disc space preparation, then the instruments are simple and easy to manufacture, but they cannot effectively reach or prepare areas away from the entry axis due to limited access opening size in MIS
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument employs an articulated mechanism that allows the distal end to dynamically change its orientation relative to the proximal end. The shaft can be rotated to various angles (e.g., 0°, 45°, 90°) to adapt to different anatomical structures and access requirements, transforming a static instrument into a dynamic one that can reach areas away from the entry axis.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument is divided into multiple segments or joints along the shaft, allowing independent movement at each articulation point. This segmentation enables the distal tip to be positioned at various angles relative to the proximal handle, providing versatility in reaching different areas while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Productivity
If traditional manual instruments are used with small access opening in MIS, then the surgical approach is minimally invasive, but the preparation effectiveness is reduced due to limited instrument reach
Solution Approach 1:
The articulated mechanism allows the instrument to be inserted through a small access opening in a straight configuration and then articulated to reach areas away from the entry axis. This dynamic repositioning capability maintains ease of insertion while significantly improving preparation effectiveness by enabling the tip to reach previously inaccessible areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulated joint acts as an intermediary mechanism between the proximal handle and distal tip, allowing the tip to be positioned at various angles relative to the entry axis. This intermediary articulation enables effective preparation of disc space areas that would otherwise be unreachable through a small access opening.
3Manufacturing precision
If the instrument tip is fixed in orientation, then the structure is simple, but it cannot provide adapted contact area with the endplate for optimal implant placement
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument incorporates an articulation mechanism that allows the tip to be dynamically oriented at various angles (e.g., 0°, 45°, 90°) relative to the shaft axis. This dynamic orientation capability enables precise alignment with the endplate surface for optimal implant placement, transforming a simple fixed-orientation instrument into a sophisticated adjustable-one.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulation mechanism changes the angular parameter of the tip orientation relative to the shaft. By allowing the tip to be positioned at different angles (0°, 45°, 90°), the instrument can adapt to different endplate geometries and provide optimized contact area for implant placement without requiring multiple different instrument designs.
Data Source
AI summary
Articulated instruments that include tools for disrupting and/or distracting tissue, and methods of using the same.