Asymmetrical Artificial Disc for Spinal Alignment Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current artificial cervical disc replacement systems fail to maintain normal spinal alignment and can lead to adjacent segment disease due to fixed disc height and lack of correction for sagittal or coronal deformities, resulting in kyphosis or kyphotic angulation post-operatively.
Innovation Solution
An artificial disc with an asymmetrical nucleus having a non-central maximum vertical axis, allowing for lordotic or kyphotic adjustments, and featuring a flattened section for stabilization and wear reduction, along with end plates that can be easily revised to maintain spinal alignment and motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a fixed height artificial disc is used, then the disc structure is simple, but it cannot maintain normal spinal alignment and leads to kyphosis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by providing an artificial disc with non-uniform thickness, where the thickness varies in the anterior-posterior direction. The disc includes a first thickness at the anterior aspect and a second thickness at the posterior aspect, creating an asymmetrical profile that enables lordotic or kyphotic corrections while maintaining structural integrity and enabling normal spinal alignment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the disc height is fixed, then the manufacturing is simple, but it cannot correct sagittal or coronal deformities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the thickness of the artificial disc at different locations. The disc has different thicknesses in the anterior-posterior direction (first thickness anteriorly, second thickness posteriorly), allowing localized adaptation to correct specific deformities while maintaining overall structural integrity and enabling versatile application in different spinal correction scenarios.
3Reliability
If the artificial disc does not preserve motion, then the adjacent segment disease is reduced, but the spinal biomechanics are disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the thickness parameter of the artificial disc in the anterior-posterior direction. This thickness variation enables the disc to maintain physiological lordotic or kyphotic angles, preserve natural spinal motion at the operative level, and thereby reduce adjacent segment disease while maintaining reliable spinal biomechanics.
Data Source
AI summary
An artificial disc prosthesis is provided. The prosthesis of the present invention enables spinal segment alignment by having a variable height across its surface. The variable height is achieved by an asymmetric artificial nucleus or by at least one variable height end plate.