Assembled Vertebral Body with Non-Circular Nesting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional artificial vertebral bodies used in cervical spine reconstruction lack customization and stability, leading to postoperative pain and complications such as subsidence and displacement due to limited adjustment range and unreliable fixation.
Innovation Solution
An assembled vertebral body system comprising a customizable artificial vertebral body element with a nested connection mechanism between an upper connecting element and a lower connecting element, featuring non-circular nesting parts to prevent axial rotation, and a bone graft channel for enhanced fusion, designed using 3D printing to fit specific patient anatomy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional artificial vertebral body is used with fixed size and simple support function, then manufacturing is simple, but adaptability to different patients and vertebral body heights is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The artificial vertebral body is divided into multiple modular components including upper endplate, lower endplate, and central body that can be assembled together. This segmentation allows customization of vertebral body height and configuration while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through standardized modular units.
Solution Approach 2:
The artificial vertebral body design incorporates multiple functions including support, distraction fixation, and angle adjustment within a single device structure. The endplates are designed with both structural support function and fixation function, eliminating the need for separate titanium mesh and titanium plate components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If spiral adjustment mechanism is used for artificial vertebral body height adjustment, then adjustment is possible, but fixation reliability is low and adjustment range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The artificial vertebral body incorporates a dynamic angle adjustment mechanism that allows the upper and lower endplates to be adjusted relative to each other to achieve desired kyphosis correction angles. The adjustment is locked in place through threaded fasteners that provide reliable fixation while allowing preoperative planning angles to be achieved.
3Ease of manufacture
If titanium mesh with small contact surface is used for vertebral body reconstruction, then implantation is simple, but long-term stability is poor leading to subsidence and displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The endplates are designed with enhanced surface area and optimized surface characteristics including porous coatings to promote bone ingrowth. The local quality of the endplate-bone interface is improved through increased contact area and osteoconductive surface treatments, providing long-term stability without complicating the overall implantation procedure.
4Strength
If auxiliary fixed nail rod or nail plate is used to reinforce fixation, then fixation strength is improved, but device complexity and surgical complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The artificial vertebral body design integrates the fixation function directly into the endplate structure. The endplates incorporate threaded holes and fixation features that allow direct attachment to adjacent vertebral bodies, combining the support function and fixation function into a single integrated component rather than requiring separate auxiliary fixation devices.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an assembled vertebral body used in a cervical reconstruction operation, comprising: an upper connecting element, an artificial vertebral body element and a lower connecting element, wherein the upper connecting element is disposed at an upper part of the artificial vertebral body element, the lower connecting element is disposed at an lower part of the artificial vertebral body element, and wherein the artificial vertebral body element is assembled with the upper connecting element and the lower connecting element, respectively. The invention has the advantages that the artificial vertebral body element is customized in accordance with the characteristics of patients and printed in 3D, and the length of the artificial vertebral body element can be precisely adjusted to adapt to the patient. Since the lower connecting element is standard part, the upper connecting element is standard part or non-standard part, and the artificial vertebral body element is non-standard part, in comparison to the traditional 3D printing which needs to be printed integrally, the adjustable assembled artificial vertebral body can reduce 3D printing materials and reduce the cost of 3D printing, thus reducing medical costs for the patient. The shape of the nested parts of the elements is a non-circular shape, which can resist rotation, so that no relative movement occurs among the three elements of the artificial vertebral body.