Bone Anchor Adapter Sealing for Minimally Invasive Cement Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adapter devices for attaching instruments to bone anchors are not robust and prone to leakage of bone cement or fluid substances, making them unsuitable for minimally invasive surgeries.
Innovation Solution
An adapter device with a holding member and locking mechanism that securely attaches to the bone anchor, ensuring fluid communication and minimizing leakage, suitable for polyaxial bone anchoring devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an adapter device is used to attach an instrument to a bone anchor, then the delivery of bone cement or fluid substances is enabled, but leakage of bone cement or fluid substances occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter device is nested within the instrument (syringe), with the adapter's channel receiving the instrument's needle or cannula. This nested configuration ensures proper alignment and sealing between the instrument and bone anchor, preventing leakage of bone cement or fluid substances during delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter device serves as an intermediary component between the instrument and the bone anchor. It includes a channel that receives the instrument's delivery mechanism and aligns it with the bone anchor's channel, ensuring secure connection and preventing leakage while enabling controlled delivery of bone cement or fluid substances.
2Reliability
If the adapter device is made robust to prevent leakage, then sealing performance improves, but the attachment process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter device is designed with multi-functionality to reduce complexity. The adapter main portion serves multiple purposes: it provides a channel for fluid delivery, receives the instrument, and interfaces with the bone anchor. This consolidation of functions into a single component achieves robust sealing without requiring multiple separate attachment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter device is segmented into distinct functional portions: an adapter main portion with a channel for fluid delivery, and a holding member for securing the bone anchor. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity in the attachment process.
3Ease of operation
If the adapter device is designed for minimally invasive surgeries, then patient benefit increases, but the device must be particularly reliable to prevent leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter device replaces complex mechanical sealing systems with a streamlined channel-based design. The adapter's channel directly receives the instrument and aligns with the bone anchor, creating a simple yet reliable fluid pathway that prevents leakage while enabling minimally invasive surgical procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter device optimizes geometric parameters of its channel and interface surfaces to ensure reliable sealing. The channel dimensions, positioning, and alignment features are specifically designed to maintain fluid-tight connections during minimally invasive procedures, preventing leakage while preserving ease of operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
An adapter device for connecting an instrument to a bone anchor is provided, wherein the bone anchor (1) comprises a shank (2) and a head (3) configured to be connected to the adapter device and a channel (5) extending through the head (3) and at least a portion of the shank (2); the adapter device comprising: an elongate adapter main portion (10) defining a longitudinal axis (L) and comprising a front end (15) configured to be connected to the head (3), and a channel (11) extending therethrough in the longitudinal direction; and a holding member (20) for holding the head (3) of the bone anchor (1), configured to at least partially encompass the head (3) and comprising an inner surface forming a seat (24) for the head (3). When the adapter main portion (10) is connected to the head (3), the channel (11) of the adapter main portion (10) and the channel (5) of the bone anchor (1) are in fluid communication with each other, preferably are aligned.