Percutaneous Bone Anchor Extension for Minimally Invasive Spinal Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal fixation devices require invasive methods for implanting bone anchors, which can lead to increased tissue damage and longer recovery times due to the need for larger incisions and more complex procedures.
Innovation Solution
A percutaneous bone anchor extension device with pivotable arms and a sliding or rotating locking mechanism that allows for minimally invasive implantation of bone anchors by providing a pathway from the skin to the spine, enabling secure engagement and disengagement of bone anchors with a spinal fixation element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional invasive methods are used for implanting bone anchors, then secure engagement and reliable fixation are achieved, but tissue damage increases and recovery time extends
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a delivery device as an intermediary tool that enables percutaneous delivery of bone anchors through small incisions. The device includes a hollow elongate member that spans from the skin incision to the target site near the spine, allowing the bone anchor to be delivered minimally invasively while maintaining secure engagement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The bone anchor is divided into separate functional components: a delivery portion that interfaces with the delivery device, a body portion with engagement features, and a head portion. This segmentation allows the anchor to be delivered through a narrow pathway while maintaining its full functional capability for secure fixation
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional invasive surgical procedures are used, then precise positioning and secure fixation are achieved, but the complexity of the procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery device serves multiple functions: it provides a pathway for bone anchor delivery, acts as a positioning guide to ensure accurate placement at the target site, and facilitates secure engagement of the anchor. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple separate surgical tools and procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery device acts as an intermediary that simplifies the surgical procedure by integrating multiple functions into a single tool, reducing procedural complexity while maintaining precise positioning capability
3Ease of operation
If larger incisions are made for traditional implantation, then easier access and instrument manipulation are achieved, but tissue trauma increases and healing time extends
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery device utilizes a hollow elongate member with thin-walled construction that can be inserted through small incisions. The flexible yet structurally sufficient design allows for easy manipulation and access to deep spinal sites while minimizing tissue disruption and promoting faster healing
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices are provided for facilitating delivery and implanting of a bone anchor into bone. In one exemplary embodiment, a bone anchor extension is provided for coupling to a bone anchor to facilitate delivery and implanting of the bone anchor in bone. The bone anchor extension can have a generally elongate configuration that allows it to extend from a skin incision in a patient to a site proximate a patient's spine, and it can include a lumen extending therethrough between proximal and distal ends thereof. A distal end of the bone anchor extension can be adapted to engage a bone anchor, such as a bone screw. Various techniques are provided for locking the distal end of the bone anchor extension into engagement with a bone anchor.