Modular Cervical Plate Coupling for Adjacent-Level Reoperation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cervical plates require complete removal during reoperation due to insufficient space for new screw fixation, leading to increased operation time and patient burden.
Innovation Solution
A cervical plate system with a main plate and subsidiary plate design, featuring fitting grooves and protrusions for continuous connection without removing the existing plate, allowing for easy reinstallation of the subsidiary plate during reoperation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional cervical plate with wide fixation range is used, then the plate provides stable fixation, but there is insufficient space to fasten new screws during reoperation on adjacent areas
Solution Approach 1:
The cervical plate is divided into a main plate and a subsidiary plate that can be independently installed. The subsidiary plate can be added to the main plate through a coupling structure, allowing sequential installation without removal. This segmentation enables the plate system to adapt to reoperation needs while maintaining the original stable fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The subsidiary plate is designed to couple with the main plate through a nested structure where the subsidiary plate fits into or attaches to the main plate. This nesting arrangement allows the subsidiary plate to be integrated without removing the main plate, providing space for additional screws while preserving the original fixation stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the conventional cervical plate is completely removed during reoperation, then space for new screw fixation is available, but operation time increases and patient burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The main plate is pre-installed with a coupling structure (such as a groove or receptacle) during the initial operation. This preliminary preparation allows the subsidiary plate to be directly attached during reoperation without requiring removal of the main plate, significantly reducing operation time and patient burden while enabling necessary surgical access.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the conventional cervical plate is completely removed during reoperation, then space for new screw fixation is available, but mental, physical, and financial burdens on patients increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the plate into main and subsidiary components that can be independently managed, the system allows selective installation of the subsidiary plate during reoperation. This eliminates the need to remove the entire main plate, reducing physical trauma, mental stress, and financial costs associated with complete plate removal and replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The main plate is retained and recovered during reoperation, while only the subsidiary plate is added. This approach avoids discarding the functional main plate, thereby reducing the physical and financial burdens on patients while still providing the necessary surgical access for reoperation.
Data Source
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Figure 3A
AI summary
A cervical plate for easy reoperation includes: a main plate of a rectangular panel shape, which is installed using a screw on the vertebra from which the disk has been removed during spinal operation to support and fix the surgical site vertebra; and a subsidiary plate of a panel shape, which is installed using a screw during reoperation on an adjacent area to the surgical site where the main plate is installed to support and fix the reoperation site vertebra, wherein the main plate and the subsidiary plate can be connected continuously, thereby allowing additional installation of the subsidiary plate while maintaining the installed state of the main plate.