Bodiless Bone Fusion Device With Extendable Plates for Vertebral Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fusion cage technologies for spinal vertebrae require invasive surgical procedures and struggle to retain bone graft material in place, leading to prolonged recovery times.
Innovation Solution
A bodiless bone fusion device with extendable plates and positioning elements that allow minimally invasive insertion and expansion between vertebrae, using extending blocks and biasing elements to secure the plates in position, facilitating bone fusion without a physical body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If traditional fusion cages are used to maintain vertebrae separation and provide structural stability, then spinal stability is improved, but the surgical procedure becomes invasive and recovery time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into multiple segments including a first body, a second body, and multiple bridging elements that can be independently positioned and secured. This segmentation allows for minimally invasive insertion while maintaining spinal stability through distributed structural support across multiple vertebrae.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridging elements are designed to nest within the spaces between vertebrae, with each bridging element containing positioning features that fit into corresponding receptacles on the vertebral bodies. This nested configuration enables compact insertion through small incisions while providing robust structural support when deployed.
2Strength
If fusion cages are used to provide structural replacement for deteriorated discs, then vertebral support is improved, but bone graft material retention is difficult and positioning is challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The bridging elements incorporate porous surfaces and textured regions that increase surface area and provide mechanical interlocking for bone graft material. These porous structures allow bone ingrowth while retaining the graft material in proper positions to stimulate bone growth and fusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The device includes pre-configured positioning features such as protrusions, recesses, and alignment guides that are prepared in advance during manufacturing. These preliminary positioning structures ensure accurate placement of the bridging elements and retention of bone graft material during the surgical procedure, eliminating the need for complex intraoperative positioning adjustments.
3Measurement precision
If extendable plates are used to secure the device between vertebrae, then positional accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates extendable plates with positioning elements that can be dynamically adjusted during surgery to achieve precise positioning between vertebrae. The plates can be extended or retracted to match the specific spacing requirements of different spinal segments, providing accurate positioning without requiring multiple fixed-size device variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning elements include self-aligning features such as tapered guides, spring-loaded mechanisms, and automatic locking systems that enable the device to self-position and self-secure between vertebrae. This self-service capability reduces the need for complex external positioning tools and simplifies the surgical procedure while maintaining high positional accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A bodiless bone fusion method, apparatus and device for insertion between bones that are to be fused together and/or in place of one or more of the bones, such as, for example, the vertebrae of a spinal column. The bodiless bone fusion device comprises one or more extendable plates, one or more extending blocks in communication with the extendable plates, one or more positioning elements for adjusting the extendable plates by manipulating the extending blocks, and one or more support panels for holding the positioning elements and guiding the extendable plates. The plates are able to be advantageously positioned in the confined space between the vertebrae to help brace the device until the bone has fused.