Cervical Fusion Plate with Dynamic Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cervical spine stabilization techniques, particularly fusion surgeries, often destabilize the spine during decompression, necessitating additional fusion procedures to restore stability and lordosis, and existing anterior approaches may not effectively increase disk space.
Innovation Solution
A minimal access fusion system comprising a longitudinally adjustable plate with bone screw bores and an inter-vertebral cage that acts as a fulcrum to raise the intervertebral space between cervical vertebrae, allowing for selective adjustment and stabilization through bone screw compression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If an anterior approach is used for cervical spine surgery, then disruption of musculature is reduced and normal spinal alignment is easier to maintain, but the ability to effectively increase disk space and restore lordosis is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The plate is designed with dynamic compression capability, allowing it to be compressed after insertion to transform the cage from a fulcrum into a wedge that raises the intervertebral space. This dynamic adjustment enables the anterior approach to achieve lordosis restoration and disk space increase that was previously only possible with posterior approaches.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If decompression surgery is performed on the cervical spine, then spinal cord impingement is relieved, but spinal instability is created requiring additional fusion procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges decompression and fusion procedures into a single staged operation. The cage provides immediate structural support and decompression, while the dynamic plate allows for subsequent compression to enhance fusion stability, eliminating the need for separate fusion procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The cage is inserted first to provide preliminary structural support and decompression before the plate compression is applied. This preliminary action stabilizes the spine in a decompressed state, preparing it for the subsequent fusion-enhancing compression.
3Shape
If a posterior approach is used to restore lordosis, then lordosis restoration is easier to achieve, but disruption of normal musculature increases and spinal alignment becomes harder to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional approach by using an anterior access point but achieving posterior-like lordosis restoration effects. The cage acts as a fulcrum and the plate compression creates a wedge effect that raises the intervertebral space and restores lordosis from the anterior approach, combining the benefits of both approaches.
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 system effectively increases intervertebral space and induces lordosis with minimal disruption, providing a stable fusion solution that combines the benefits of anterior and posterior approaches.
Implementation Method 1
The plate is configured to change in longitudinal length and can be inserted in a first position, where the longitudinal length is substantially at its longest, and moved to a second position, where the longitudinal length is shorter
Implementation Method 2
when the plate is shortened after insertion, the cage, which is already positioned between two adjacent cervical vertebrae, acts as a fulcrum point, raising the intervertebral space between the anterior portion of the vertebrae
Data Source
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AI summary
A cervical minimal access fusion system is presented. The system has a plate with a longitudinal axis and defining at least two bone screw bores therethrough and an inter-vertebral cage configured to be positioned between two adjacent cervical vertebrae. A method for a cervical minimal access fusion system is also presented. In one aspect, the method comprises the steps of accessing the facet joints of two adjacent cervical vertebrae, distracting the joints so as to increase the space between the two adjacent cervical vertebrae, placing an implant or structural bone graft in the space between the two adjacent cervical vertebrae to maintain the distraction, and compressing the two lateral masses to induce lordosis around the facet joint.