Articulating Spinal Implant Delivery Instrument

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for inserting spinal implants are invasive, causing trauma to surrounding bone, tissues, and muscle, and complicating access to intervertebral spaces for lumbar interbody fusion devices.

Innovation Solution

A medical instrument with an articulating member and engagement member that allows for the secure placement and rotation of a spacer between boney structures, enabling minimally invasive insertion and retrieval while maintaining the spacer's position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional invasive surgical techniques are used to insert spinal implants, then access to intervertebral spaces is achieved, but trauma to surrounding bone, tissues, and muscle increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to intervertebral spacesVSAvoidtrauma to surrounding bone, tissues, and muscle

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The delivery instrument is divided into multiple functional segments including a body, articulating member, engagement member, and articulator. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while minimizing overall invasiveness. The engagement member can be detached after implant delivery, and the articulating member can be independently actuated to rotate the implant without requiring additional invasive manipulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The engagement member is inserted through the body of the delivery instrument to reach and engage the spinal implant. This nested configuration allows the engagement member to access the implant through the existing surgical pathway without requiring separate invasive access, thereby reducing trauma to surrounding tissues while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Device complexity

If the engagement member is positioned at the same location as the articulating member, then the instrument structure is simplified, but the insert cannot rotate relative to the instrument during insertion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstrument structureVSAvoidrotation of insert relative to instrument

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement member and articulating member are deliberately positioned at different locations along the delivery instrument body, creating an asymmetric configuration. This asymmetry enables the articulating member to rotate the engagement member and attached implant independently without interfering with the engagement member's securing function. The offset positioning allows rotational movement while maintaining structural integrity and functional differentiation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Object-affected harmful factors

If minimally invasive techniques are used to reduce trauma, then surgical precision must be increased to accurately place implants in difficult-to-reach locations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrauma reductionVSAvoidsurgical precision for implant placement

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement member acts as an intermediary between the delivery instrument and the spinal implant. It provides a secure connection point that allows precise control and positioning of the implant through the minimally invasive pathway. The articulating member serves as another intermediary that enables controlled rotation of the implant to achieve proper orientation without requiring additional invasive access or complex manual manipulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The engagement member is pre-positioned and secured to the implant before final delivery to the intervertebral space. This preliminary action ensures that the implant is firmly attached and properly oriented on the delivery instrument before insertion, allowing for precise placement through the minimally invasive pathway without requiring complex real-time adjustments that would increase surgical complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7976549B2Instruments for delivering spinal implants

Publication Date: 2011.07.12 SEASPINE ORTHOPEDICS CORP

AI summary

A method, apparatus, and system are provided to place an insert in a space between boney structures. The insert may be rotatably coupled to the delivery instrument. The delivery instrument may comprise a body and an articulating member. The articulating member may slidably interact with the insert to rotate the insert about a pivot point. A first actuator is operatively coupled to the articulating member such that actuating the first actuator translates the articulating member relative to the body. An engagement member may be coupled to the body and adapted to releasably and rotatably secure the insert to the delivery instrument. The articulating member and the engagement member may be offset from each other in such a manner that when the articulating member engages the insert, the insert rotates relative to the delivery instrument. Alternatively, the insert may be coupled to the delivery instrument via rotatable attachment members.