Bone Fusion Device With Extendable Tabs and Guided Insertion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bone fusion devices for vertebrae require invasive surgical procedures, leading to prolonged recovery times and challenges in retaining bone graft material in place for effective fusion.
Innovation Solution
A bone fusion system featuring extendable plates with a central rib, secured by an insertion instrument, allowing minimally invasive placement and secure positioning using a coupling mechanism, with extendable tabs that are expanded to stabilize the device and facilitate bone graft material delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fusion cages are used, then bone fusion can be achieved, but invasive surgical procedures are required leading to prolonged recovery times
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion instrument is divided into multiple functional components including a body, control rod, plurality of fingers, and coupling mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while enabling minimally invasive insertion through coordinated action of the segmented parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The fingers are configured to move between closed and open positions dynamically. This dynamic movement allows the fingers to grip the bone fusion device during insertion and then release or adjust position to facilitate minimally invasive placement and subsequent recovery.
2Stability of the object's composition
If fusion cages are inserted to maintain vertebrae separation, then structural stability is provided, but bone graft material is difficult to retain in proper positions
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism acts as an intermediary between the insertion instrument and the bone fusion device. It securely connects these components during the insertion process, ensuring that bone graft material is properly retained and positioned within the fusion cage while maintaining vertebrae separation stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The bone fusion device incorporates porous structures that allow bone graft material to be retained in proper positions. The porous material provides surface area and structural features that hold the bone graft material securely while allowing biological integration and maintaining vertebrae separation.
3Loss of time
If minimally invasive procedures are used, then recovery time is reduced, but device placement precision and stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion instrument replaces complex mechanical insertion systems with a more refined mechanism featuring a control rod and movable fingers. This substitution allows for precise control of the bone fusion device placement through minimal external manipulation, achieving high placement precision while maintaining minimally invasive benefits and reduced recovery time.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument allows for parameter changes in the positioning and orientation of the bone fusion device through controlled movement of the fingers and control rod. This enables precise adjustment of placement parameters during minimally invasive insertion, ensuring accurate device positioning without compromising stability or requiring invasive procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A bone fusion method, system 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 bone fusion device comprises one or more extendable tabs having a central rib. The bone fusion device includes one or more support channels configured to receive an insertion instrument that is then secured to the bone fusion device via a coupling mechanism. As a result, the coupled device is able to be securely positioned between vertebrae using the insertion instrument with minimal risk of slippage.