Artificial Disc With Leveling Plates for Vertebral Force Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices for spinal support and replacement fail to effectively distribute forces and maintain anatomical alignment, leading to inadequate support and stability in traumatized vertebrae.
Innovation Solution
A prosthetic disc comprising a base ring, multiple leveling plates with non-flat surfaces, and pads that equalize and distribute forces, along with a compressible member to absorb shock, ensuring proper alignment and stability by engaging with vertebrae surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple spinal support device is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the force distribution and stability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The spinal support device is divided into multiple functional components: base ring, multiple lower leveling plates with non-flat bottom surfaces, multiple upper leveling plates, multiple pads, cover, and compressible member. Each segment performs a specific function in force distribution and alignment, resolving the contradiction by achieving reliable force distribution through modular segmentation rather than a single complex structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces multiple leveling plates stacked in vertical layers (lower and upper levels) to create a multi-dimensional force distribution system. This layered approach distributes forces across multiple planes and levels, enhancing stability and force distribution capability without requiring excessive complexity in any single component.
2Device complexity
If existing spinal devices are used, then the device structure is simple, but the anatomical alignment is not maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The lower leveling plates feature non-flat bottom surfaces with asymmetric contours designed to engage with the inner surface of the base ring. This asymmetric geometry enables precise anatomical alignment by matching the natural curvature and orientation of vertebrae, maintaining proper spinal alignment without requiring overly complex adjustment mechanisms.
3Device complexity
If trauma-affected vertebrae are not properly supported, then the device structure remains simple, but the support and stability are inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The leveling plates and pads are pre-configured with specific geometries and orientations before implantation. The non-flat surfaces of the lower leveling plates and the structured arrangement of pads are designed in advance to equalize and distribute forces uniformly across the vertebrae, providing immediate and adequate support stability upon implantation without requiring complex intraoperative adjustments.
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 solution provides enhanced force distribution and stability, maintaining anatomical alignment and supporting the spine by evenly distributing forces across the vertebrae, thus addressing the limitations of existing medical devices.
Implementation Method 1
A compressible member is arranged through a center of the multiple lower leveling plates, the multiple upper leveling plates and the multiple pads and the compressible member has a top surface that engages the cover
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device includes a base ring configured to be implanted within a body of a patient. The base ring provides a contact surface to a vertebra. Multiple layers of multiple leveling plates are configured to equalize forces applied to the contact surface of the base ring, where at least one of the layers of the leveling plates engages an inner surface of the base ring. A layer of multiple pads is included with a top surface of the pads configured to maintain a parallel plane and a bottom surface of each of the multiple pads is configured to engage a top surface of one of the layers of the leveling plates. A cover is configured to enclose the multiple layers of the leveling plates, the layer of the multiple pads and the base ring. The cover provides a contact surface to a vertebra.