Curved Spine Anchors With Guided Insertion Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in implementing intervertebral implants during a lateral approach interbody fusion with a patient in a lateral decubitus position is the interference caused by ribs and iliac crest, which complicates implantation and securing of the implants, and curved fasteners may introduce alignment and insertion issues.
Innovation Solution
The development of a surgical implant system featuring a spacer with curved anchors and an insertion device that allows for non-angled instrumentation, including a modular tip and alignment mechanisms, to facilitate secure and efficient implantation by aligning and guiding the anchors through the spacer's eyelets into vertebral bodies, providing divergent or convergent anchor configurations for stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If curved fasteners are used to eliminate the need for angled instrumentation, then the implantation process is simplified, but alignment and insertion challenges arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an insertion device as an intermediary tool that guides and aligns the curved fasteners during implantation. This mediator device bridges the gap between the simplified curved fastener design and the precision alignment requirement, enabling easy operation while maintaining manufacturing precision through the guided insertion mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The insertion device performs preliminary alignment and positioning actions before the curved fasteners are fully inserted. By pre-aligning the fasteners within the device and establishing proper trajectory beforehand, the system ensures accurate placement without requiring complex angled instrumentation during the actual implantation.
2Ease of operation
If curved fasteners are used to eliminate angled instrumentation, then ease of operation improves, but insertion efficacy becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion device serves as a mediator that ensures reliable insertion of curved fasteners. It provides a controlled environment for inserting the curved fasteners, maintaining insertion efficacy while preserving the ease of operation benefit. The device ensures proper engagement and positioning of the curved fasteners within the vertebral bodies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical angled instrumentation with a simpler insertion device mechanism that handles the curved fasteners. This substitution maintains insertion efficacy by using a dedicated insertion mechanism rather than relying on complex angular adjustments, thereby preserving reliability while improving ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical implant system includes a surgical implant for securing adjacent vertebrae of a spine to each other. The surgical implant includes a spacer having at least one implant eyelet. The surgical implant system also includes at least one vertebral anchor configured for insertion through the at least one implant eyelet to fasten the surgical implant to the spine. The vertebral anchor has a tip portion, a head portion, an elongate shank extending from the head portion, and an elongate fin extending from the head portion and along a surface of the elongate shank. The elongate shank and the elongate fin form a generally t-shaped cross-section.