Cervical Disc Prosthesis Wear Reduction via Ceramic Composite
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vertebral disc prostheses, particularly for cervical vertebrae, suffer from rapid wear of articular surfaces, risk of intermediate component expulsion, and complexity in manufacturing due to metal/metal or metal/polyethylene contacts, leading to undesirable particle diffusion and limited movement restoration.
Innovation Solution
A vertebral disc prosthesis with two components and an elastically deformable material interposed between them, featuring dual pairs of articular surfaces and a central pin with a widened head, allowing sideways and axial mobility while maintaining continuous articular surface contact, reducing wear and manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If existing vertebral disc prostheses use metal/metal or metal/polyethylene contacts to reproduce vertebral movements, then the prosthesis can maintain structural strength, but the articular surfaces suffer from rapid wear leading to particle diffusion into the patient's organism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite material system consisting of a metallic component (titanium alloy or stainless steel) and a ceramic component (alumina or zirconia). This composite approach combines the high strength and toughness of metals with the extreme wear resistance and biocompatibility of ceramics, resolving the contradiction between structural strength and wear resistance. The ceramic articular surface provides superior wear resistance while the metallic structure maintains mechanical strength.
2Reliability
If existing prostheses use three components with an intermediate sliding component to reduce wear, then wear is reduced, but there is a risk of expulsion of the intermediate component and increased manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple components into a single integrated ceramic component. Instead of using three separate components with an intermediate sliding element, the invention combines the articular surfaces and structural elements into one monolithic ceramic prosthesis that can be implanted as a single unit, eliminating the risk of intermediate component expulsion and simplifying manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the intermediate sliding component from the three-component design, retaining only the essential articular surfaces needed for wear-resistant movement. This simplification removes the source of potential expulsion while maintaining the wear-resistant function through the ceramic material properties.
3Volume of moving object
If existing prostheses use reduced dimensions for cervical disc applications, then the prosthesis fits the anatomical space, but the articular surfaces experience more rapid wear due to repeated movements
Solution Approach 1:
The use of ceramic materials allows the prosthesis to be miniaturized for cervical applications while maintaining superior wear resistance. Ceramics provide extreme hardness and wear resistance that enables small-scale articular surfaces to withstand repeated movements without the rapid wear that plagues conventional metal or polyethylene prostheses of similar size.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution achieves reduced wear of articular surfaces, eliminates the risk of intermediate component expulsion, and simplifies manufacturing, ensuring continuous articular surface contact and natural joint movement restoration.
Implementation Method 1
at least one component in an elastically deformable material, interposed between said peripheral supporting surface of the first component and said plate of the second component, this component in an elastically deformable material normally maintaining said second and fourth articular surfaces in contact with each other
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a prosthesis including a first component that delimits a single central housing, including a bottom forming a first articular surface, a peripheral wall and, at a distance from the bottom, an edge extending inwards, a peripheral supporting surface, and on the side turned towards said bottom a second articular surface; and a second component including a plate intended to come into contact with the vertebral plate of the relevant vertebra and a single central pin with a widened head.