Biomaterial Delivery Device for Clog-Free Disc Space Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern surgical approaches for spinal fusion face challenges in delivering highly viscous and fibrous bone growth inducing materials through small incisions due to clogging and blocking issues with existing delivery instruments.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a delivery body with a cannulation and a carrier configured to carry biomaterial, along with an advancement member to forcibly advance the material into the intervertebral disc space, and a loading tray with elongate slots and a rotary member to facilitate efficient delivery and loading of biomaterial.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If minimally invasive surgical approaches are used with small incisions, then tissue disruption is reduced, but delivery of viscous bone graft material becomes difficult due to clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery system employs nested components where the carrier is inserted within the delivery body, and the bone graft material is contained within the carrier. This nested structure allows the system to maintain a compact profile for minimally invasive insertion while providing sufficient internal volume to accommodate and deliver viscous bone graft material without clogging
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery system is divided into separate functional segments: the delivery body for insertion, the carrier for material containment, and the advancement member for material propulsion. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, enabling effective delivery of viscous material through a small incision without compromising the minimally invasive approach
2Reliability
If highly viscous and fibrous bone growth inducing materials are used, then bone fusion effectiveness is improved, but delivery through instruments becomes blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier features a larger internal cross-sectional area compared to the delivery body's external dimensions, creating a local expansion zone that accommodates the bulkier viscous bone graft material. This local quality change allows the material to be contained and advanced without blocking the narrower delivery pathway
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier acts as an intermediary between the bone graft material and the delivery body, providing a transition zone with sufficient space to hold the viscous material and interface it with the delivery system. This intermediary structure prevents direct contact between the material and the narrow delivery pathway, eliminating clogging while maintaining material integrity
3Measurement precision
If separate trialing procedures are performed to determine disc space dimensions, then measurement accuracy is improved, but surgical time and tissue disruption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery body serves multiple functions: it acts as both the insertion instrument and a trial component for measuring disc space dimensions. The distal portion's maximum height provides measurement information about the disc space, eliminating the need for separate trialing procedures while maintaining measurement accuracy and reducing surgical time
Data Source
AI summary
A system for delivering flowable biomaterial to an intervertebral disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies includes a delivery body defining a proximal end, a distal end spaced from the proximal end along a longitudinal direction, a cannulation extending from the proximal end to an opening adjacent the distal end, and a distal region including a tip that extends to the distal end. The distal region defines a maximum height at a location proximal of the distal end and measured along a second direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The distal region is for indicating a distance between the adjacent vertebral bodies. The system includes a carrier having a longitudinally elongate channel for carrying biomaterial and being insertable within the cannulation, as well as an advancement member configured for insertion within the cannulation to forcibly advance the biomaterial from the cannulation, through the opening, and into the disc space.