Rounded-Head Bone Tie Insertion for Reversible Facet Stabilization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical procedures for addressing degenerative facet joints in the spine, such as vertebral fusion, have high morbidity rates and are not reversible, leading to potential further clinical complications and unsatisfactory results.
Innovation Solution
The use of a bone tie and bone tie inserter system for securing or fusing facets, which includes a bone tie with a proximal end, distal end, head section, neck section, and fastener section, and a bone tie inserter with an advancer and retriever, to facilitate the insertion and retrieval of the bone tie between adjacent vertebrae.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vertebral fusion is performed to address degenerative facet joints, then pain and instability are reduced, but morbidity increases and the procedure becomes irreversible
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the fusion procedure into modular components: a bone tie with distinct sections (fastener section, body section, neck section, head section) that can be independently manipulated and inserted through separate lumens, allowing staged implementation and potential reversal of individual components while maintaining overall stability
Solution Approach 2:
The bone tie incorporates a dynamic fastening mechanism with a ratchet that allows one-way tightening to secure the facet joint while maintaining the ability to adjust or reverse the fixation if needed, transitioning from a static irreversible fusion to a dynamic adjustable system
2Object-affected harmful factors
If vertebral fusion is performed to stop motion between vertebrae, then pain from facet motion is reduced, but loss of mobility and potential adjacent segment disorders increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bone tie applies stabilization locally at the facet joint level through targeted lumens in the articular processes, rather than imposing global fusion across multiple vertebral segments, preserving mobility in adjacent spinal segments while addressing pain at the specific degenerated facet joint
Solution Approach 2:
The reversible nature of the bone tie allows for dynamic adjustment of stabilization levels, enabling the system to transition from motion restriction to motion preservation as healing progresses, unlike permanent fusion which permanently eliminates mobility
3Reliability
If vertebral fusion is performed as a definitive treatment, then facet joint pathology is addressed, but reversibility is lost and additional surgery is required for unsatisfactory results
Solution Approach 1:
The bone tie fastening mechanism is designed with reversible engagement features, allowing the system to transition between secured and released states, enabling correction or removal if clinical outcomes are unsatisfactory without requiring complex revision surgery
Solution Approach 2:
The bone tie can be inserted and temporarily secured to achieve preliminary stabilization and pain relief, allowing clinical assessment of effectiveness before committing to permanent fusion, enabling staged decision-making about definitive treatment
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a bone tie with rounded head and neck section is inserted through lumens in adjacent vertebrae, then facet joint stabilization is achieved with less invasiveness, but insertion complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion system is divided into specialized tools for each function: a bone tie advancer with curved surface for guiding the rounded head through lumens, and a bone tie retriever with channel for removal, allowing each tool to be optimized for its specific task while maintaining overall system manageability
Solution Approach 2:
The rounded head and neck section of the bone tie act as intermediary elements that facilitate insertion through the lumens, with the curved surface of the advancer and channel of the retriever providing complementary geometric interfaces that simplify the insertion and removal processes
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of bone ties, bone tie inserters, and methods for treating the spine are provided. The bone tie can include a proximal end and a distal end. The bone tie can include a head section comprising a rounded head. The bone tie can include a neck section extending proximally from the head section. A bone tie inserter for placing a bone tie can also be provided. The bone tie inserter can include a bone tie advancer with a curved surface configured to guide a rounded head of a bone tie. The bone tie inserter can include a bone tie retriever configured to receive the rounded head of a bone tie. The bone tie is configured to pivot and/or rotate within the retriever portion of the bone tie inserter. The method can include forming a lumen in a first bone portion and a second bone portion. The bone tie can be configured to pivot and/or rotate as the bone tie retriever is withdrawn.