Inflatable Balloon Anchor for Percutaneous Spinal Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical methods for correcting spinal curvature in scoliosis often require complex systems with multiple vertebral anchors and sudden force applications, which can lead to incomplete correction and risk of neurological damage due to large incisions and dissections.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a minimally invasive technique using an inflatable balloon anchor and cable system to gradually align the spine by forming holes in vertebrae, inserting a tube with an inflatable balloon, and applying tension through a cable and external leverage support to achieve spinal alignment over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If complex systems with multiple vertebral anchors and sudden force applications are used, then spinal curvature correction can be achieved, but the risk of bone fracture and nerve damage increases due to large incisions and dissections
Solution Approach 1:
The correction system is divided into multiple independent components: multiple deployable bone anchors positioned at different vertebral levels, a cable system with multiple attachment points, and an inflatable balloon mechanism. This segmentation allows distributed force application across several vertebral bodies rather than concentrated force at a single site, reducing the risk of bone fracture and nerve damage while maintaining alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static anchoring to dynamic, controlled force application. The inflatable balloon mechanism allows progressive inflation to gradually apply corrective force, and the cable system enables adjustable tension. This dynamic approach permits gradual spinal realignment over time, avoiding sudden force applications that could cause bone fracture or nerve damage, while still achieving precise curvature correction.
2Manufacturing precision
If complex systems with multiple vertebral anchors are used, then spinal alignment can be corrected, but the surgical procedure requires large incisions and dissections
Solution Approach 1:
The bone anchors are designed with nested structures where the cable system is positioned within the vertebral bodies, and the inflatable balloon is contained within a catheter that is inserted through the cable. This nested arrangement allows multiple functional components to be packed into minimal space, enabling percutaneous insertion through small incisions rather than requiring large surgical exposures, thus reducing procedure complexity while maintaining alignment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable system acts as an intermediary mechanism that transmits force from external application points to the bone anchors embedded in vertebral bodies. This intermediary cable-cable assembly allows the surgeon to apply corrective forces through a minimally invasive percutaneous approach rather than directly manipulating the spine through large incisions, thereby simplifying the surgical procedure while achieving precise spinal alignment.
3Productivity
If sudden force applications are used to correct spinal curvature, then correction can be achieved quickly, but the risk of neurological damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The correction process employs periodic, progressive inflation of the inflatable balloon rather than a single sudden force application. The balloon is inflated in controlled stages, allowing the spine to gradually adapt to corrective forces. This periodic action enables relatively quick correction of spinal curvature while distributing the mechanical stress over time, thereby reducing the risk of neurological damage that would result from sudden, acute force applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides dynamic control over the correction process through adjustable cable tension and progressive balloon inflation. This dynamic mechanism allows the surgeon to apply corrective forces gradually and adjust the rate of correction based on patient response, achieving timely spinal realignment while avoiding sudden force shocks that could damage neural structures. The flexibility in controlling the timing and magnitude of force application balances correction speed with safety.
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
This approach allows for gradual spinal alignment with reduced risk of bone fracture and nerve damage, enabling effective correction of spinal curvature using percutaneous methods and minimizing the need for large incisions, thus promoting safer and more effective surgical outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
inflating the inflatable balloon against an external surface of the vertebra and enclosing the anchor tip
Data Source
AI summary
A method of gradually aligning a spine having a plurality of vertebra, including: forming a hole in a vertebra of the spine; placing a tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the tube arranged to extend into or through the hole, the tube having an inflatable balloon secured to the distal end; extending a cable within the tube, the cable having an anchor tip or an array; inflating the inflatable balloon against an external surface of the vertebra and enclosing the anchor tip or array; releasably attaching an external leverage support to the proximal end of the tube; pulling the cable and the inflated balloon toward the external leverage support; and, attaching the cable to the external leverage support.