Artificial Vertebra Fixing System with Self-Tapping Transverse Screws
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional artificial vertebrae exhibit poor stability due to inadequate bonding strength with adjacent vertebrae and a high risk of screw thread disengagement, leading to potential implant shift or dropout.
Innovation Solution
An artificial vertebra fixing system featuring an artificial vertebra main body connected via longitudinal connecting rods and transverse connecting screws with self-tapping or threaded holes, incorporating a locking mechanism and rotation stopping portions to ensure stable attachment and prevent screw thread dropout.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional artificial vertebrae are used with transverse screws connected to threaded holes, then the implant can be initially fixed, but the screw threads easily disengage after a period of use leading to implant shift or dropout
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting portion is designed to change state from movable to fixed. Initially, the connecting portion can move relative to the artificial vertebra main body to facilitate installation. After the transverse connecting screw is tightened, the connecting portion becomes fixed, transforming from a movable state to a fixed state, thereby ensuring long-term connection stability without thread disengagement
Solution Approach 2:
The connection system is divided into separate functional components: the artificial vertebra main body, the connecting portion with self-tapping through holes, and the transverse connecting screws. This segmentation allows the connecting portion to independently engage with the main body through self-tapping, creating a more reliable connection that prevents screw thread dropout over time
2Ease of manufacture
If the matching between outer screw threads and threaded holes is used for connection, then the assembly is simple, but the connection stability deteriorates over time due to thread dropout
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting portion is equipped with self-tapping through holes that can automatically form threads when the transverse connecting screw is inserted and tightened. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for pre-formed threaded holes, ensuring consistent thread quality and connection stability while maintaining assembly simplicity. The self-tapping process creates optimized thread engagement that resists dropout over time
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is an artificial vertebra fixing system. The artificial vertebra fixing system includes: an artificial vertebra main body, arranged between adjacent human physiological vertebrae; two longitudinal connecting rods, respectively arranged at two sides of spinous processes of the human physiological vertebrae; a transverse connecting screw, connected between the artificial vertebra main body and each of the longitudinal connecting rods; and a connecting portion, connected to the artificial vertebra main body; the connecting portion is provided with a self-tapping through hole or a threaded hole; when the connecting portion is provided with the self-tapping through hole, the transverse connecting screw is formed into thread structure by self-tapping when being screwed to the self-tapping through hole; and when the connecting portion is provided with the threaded hole, the transverse connecting screw is matched with the threaded hole. According to the technical scheme of the invention, the problem that the artificial vertebra has a poor stability in the related technology is effectively solved.