Articulating Expandable Intervertebral Spacer Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The spinal column often requires additional support due to weaknesses caused by degenerative diseases, tumors, fractures, and dislocations, and existing solutions fail to provide effective adjustable support between adjacent vertebrae to maintain stability and promote fusion.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable intervertebral spacer with a frame, endplates, a link, and an actuating screw that allows for expansion by moving the endplates relative to the frame, enabling increased height and secure engagement with bones, facilitating fusion and stabilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-height spacer is used to separate vertebrae, then the spacer provides structural support, but it cannot adapt to varying disc height requirements and may cause mismatch with adjacent vertebrae
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer transitions from a fixed structure to a dynamic, adjustable structure through the incorporation of an actuating mechanism. The actuating screw can be rotated to change the separation distance between endplates, allowing the spacer to adapt to different disc height requirements while maintaining structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer is divided into distinct functional components: endplates for vertebral engagement, a frame structure for support, and an actuating mechanism for height adjustment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while enabling overall adaptability of the device.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a complex adjustable mechanism is added to the spacer, then height adjustability is achieved, but the device becomes more difficult to implant and may require more invasive procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating mechanism is designed to be self-contained within the spacer structure, with the actuating screw accessible through the frame. This allows the surgeon to adjust the spacer height directly at the implantation site without requiring additional tools or complex external mechanisms, simplifying the implantation procedure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the spacer is inserted in a compressed state to minimize tissue disruption, then minimally invasive insertion is achieved, but the final height and stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer is prepared in a compressed or collapsed state before insertion, allowing it to pass through a smaller insertion pathway and minimize tissue disruption. Once positioned between the vertebrae, the actuating mechanism is activated to expand the spacer to its final height, ensuring both minimally invasive insertion and reliable post-implantation stability.
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 spacer provides adjustable support and fusion between vertebrae, allowing for minimally invasive insertion and expansion, reducing tissue damage and enabling effective stabilization and disc height restoration, while allowing for repositioning and re-expansion if necessary.
Implementation Method 1
an actuating screw moveable with respect to the frame and pivotally connected to the link to cause movement of the link when the actuating screw is moved with respect to the frame
Implementation Method 2
a first endplate configured to engage a first bone of the joint, and having at least one ramped surface mateable with the at least one ramped surface of the frame, whereby when the first endplate is moved relative to the frame in a direction along the frame longitudinal axis, the first endplate is moved in a direction away from the frame to increase a height of the spacer
Data Source
AI summary
A spacer for separating bones of a joint, the spacer includes a frame having a longitudinal axis, and ramped surfaces. An endplate configured to engage a bone of the joint has ramped surfaces mateable with the ramped surfaces of the frame. When the endplate is moved relative to the frame in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the frame, the endplate is moved in a direction away from the frame to increase the height of the spacer. A second endplate configured to engage a second bone of the joint can be similarly configured.