Articulating Laminoplasty Plates with Slotted Hinges

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional laminoplasty procedures require custom-made plates that do not easily adapt to varying anatomical landmarks, leading to suboptimal fit and potential ongoing compression on the spinal cord and nerve roots.

Innovation Solution

Development of articulating, expandable, and malleable laminoplasty plates with slotted hinges and adjustable components, such as a cage system with bone fasteners, and an expandable fixation system using set screws, allowing for better fit and customizable deployment during surgery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional fixed-size laminoplasty plates are used, then the plate can be implanted with a standard design, but the fit to varying anatomical landmarks is suboptimal and custom selection and pre-surgical shaping are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestandard plate designVSAvoidfit to anatomical landmarks

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The laminoplasty plate incorporates an articulating mechanism with a hinge joint that allows the plate to transition from a compressed transport configuration to an expanded operational configuration. This dynamic structure enables the plate to adapt to varying anatomical landmarks by adjusting its shape in situ, eliminating the need for custom pre-surgical shaping while maintaining optimal fit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The plate is divided into multiple segments including a first arm, a second arm, and a hinge joint connecting them. This segmentation allows each component to be standardized for manufacturing while enabling the assembled structure to be adjusted and configured to match specific anatomical requirements during surgery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If custom-made plates are selected and intensively shaped prior to surgery, then the fit to anatomical landmarks is improved, but the surgical procedure time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanatomical conformityVSAvoidpre-surgical preparation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The plate's articulating mechanism allows it to be inserted in a compact, standardized form and then expanded and adjusted to the required configuration during surgery. This eliminates time-consuming pre-surgical shaping while achieving optimal anatomical conformity through intraoperative adjustment of the hinge joint and arm positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The plate is pre-configured with the articulating mechanism and hinge joint in a compressed state for easy implantation. The adjustment and expansion to the final operational shape is performed after implantation, allowing the surgeon to achieve precise anatomical conformity without extensive pre-surgical preparation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the laminoplasty plate is made articulating and expandable with slotted hinges, then the fit and anatomical conformity are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveangular and transitional adjustmentsVSAvoidslotted hinge and cage system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The plate is segmented into standardized components (first arm, second arm, hinge joint, cage structure) that can be manufactured separately using standard processes. This segmentation manages complexity by breaking down the articulating mechanism into discrete, manufacturable parts while maintaining the overall adaptability and adjustability of the assembled device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If a fixed-size plate is used, then the implantation process is simpler, but the ability to decompress the spinal cord effectively is reduced due to poor fit

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplantation processVSAvoiddecompression effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The articulating plate can be implanted in a simplified manner using standard techniques, then expanded and adjusted to achieve the optimal configuration for decompressing the spinal cord. The hinge joint and expandable structure allow the plate to adapt to the specific anatomical requirements of each patient, ensuring effective decompression without complicating the initial implantation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10226284B2Laminoplasty plates, systems, and devices, and methods relating to the same

Publication Date: 2019.03.12 GLOBUS MEDICAL INC

AI summary

Disclosed are laminoplasty devices and systems, kits that include such laminoplasty devices or systems or components thereof; and methods of assembling and using such laminoplasty devices and systems. In particular, articulating laminoplasty devices are provided that allow lamina plates to be adjusted angularly and transitionally with respect to a cage connecting the lamina plates. Also provided are laminoplasty plates that are configured so as to be assembled with a bone graft housing, and which provide an opening configured to facilitate bone graft insertion into the housing. Further provided are expandable laminoplasty fixation systems that include a lateral mass plate, a lamina plate and a set screw that when screwed and unscrewed, allows one to contract and expand the plates with respect to one another.