Artificial Disc With Angled Plates And Rolling Spacer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spinal implant technologies either lead to loss of spinal flexibility through fusion or suffer from wear debris generation due to sliding elements, limiting the device's lifetime.

Innovation Solution

An intervertebral body spacer device featuring plates with angled inner surfaces and a disc-shaped contacting element, allowing for tilting or rolling motion, which reduces contact stress and mimics natural spinal motion while securing to adjacent vertebral bodies through textured surfaces or coatings for osteoconduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If spinal fusion is performed to stabilise adjacent vertebrae, then stability is improved, but spinal flexibility is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestabilityVSAvoidspinal flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The contacting element is segmented into multiple surface features (protrusions and grooves) that allow independent motion in different directions. This segmentation enables the device to provide stability while preserving spinal flexibility through controlled articulation between vertebrae.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device transitions from a static fusion approach to a dynamic articulating system. The contacting element with its protrusions and grooves enables controlled motion between vertebrae, allowing the spine to remain flexible while maintaining stability through the mechanical guidance of the articulation surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If sliding motion is used in artificial joint replacement, then mobility is restored, but wear debris generation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovemobilityVSAvoidwear debris

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The contacting element incorporates curved and rounded surface features including protrusions with radii and grooves with curved paths. This curvature distributes contact stresses more evenly compared to sharp sliding contacts, reducing wear debris generation while maintaining mobility between vertebrae.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The contacting element acts as an intermediary between the first and second vertebrae, mediating the interaction through its protrusions and grooves. This intermediary structure controls the motion and reduces direct sliding contact, thereby minimizing wear debris generation while restoring mobility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If sharp edges are used in V-shaped grooves for tilting motion, then articulation is enabled, but stress concentration increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovearticulationVSAvoidcontact stress

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces sharp edges with rounded protrusions having specified radii (e.g., 0.5mm to 2mm) and curved groove surfaces. This curvature eliminates stress concentration points while maintaining the articulation function, allowing smooth tilting motion between vertebrae without excessive contact stress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 device maintains spinal flexibility and stability by distributing compressive loads, reducing wear and promoting bone integration, thus extending the device's lifespan and preserving natural spinal biomechanics.

Implementation Method 1

securing to adjacent vertebral bodies through textured surfaces or coatings for osteoconduction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOsteoconduction:

Implementation Method 2

the inner surfaces of at least one or each plate are shaped such as to form two planar or non-planar sloping surfaces that meet at a linear ridgeline, wherein the long axis of the one or each slot runs along the ridgeline of the corresponding plate, and wherein the contacting element is in the form of a disc and the outer surfaces of the contacting element facing the plates are planar, enabling a tilting or rolling motion of the plates along the ridgeline of the respective plate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRolling motion:

Implementation Method 3

The device maintains spinal flexibility and stability by distributing compressive loads

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLoad distribution:

Data Source

PatentEP1919404B1Orthopaedic medical device

Publication Date: 2019.07.03 TAURUS GMBH & CO KG

Figure 1.1~2.5
Figure 3.1~3.10
Figure 4.1~4.4

AI summary

An artificial disc having a pair of opposing plates (810,830) for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces separated by a supporting element (820) , functioning as both a spacer and structural support. Various plate geometries are disclosed including ones with flat outer faces and ones with convex outer faces to conform to the adjacent vertebral mating surface geometry. Inner surfaces are described as comprising two sloping substantially flat or curved surfaces meeting at an ridgeline with a radius. Various inner device embodiments are disclosed. The inner spacer/ support devices are dispersed between the plates, through various disclosed couplings, so that the plates com- press, rotate and angulate freely relative to one another, enabling the artificial disc to mimic a healthy natural intervertebral disc.