Plastically Deformable Interosseous Spinal Implant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal fusion and vertebroplasty procedures face challenges in achieving secure implantation and fusion due to the dome-shaped vertebral bone surface and limited access, especially when dealing with degenerated or fractured vertebrae, where existing implants require drilling and may not securely hold or maintain the integrity of the cortical bone.
Innovation Solution
A deformable, monolithic implant that expands from a low profile to a high profile by plastic deformation, featuring rotating locator arms and deformation joints to align load-bearing columns, providing secure contact with vertebral surfaces and allowing osteogenic material passage, while maintaining the cortical bone integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If drilling is used to insert existing implants, then the implant can be secured to the vertebra, but the cortical bone integrity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into multiple load-bearing columns separated by deformation joints, allowing the structure to expand after insertion. This segmentation enables the implant to achieve secure fixation through expansion rather than drilling, thus maintaining cortical bone integrity while ensuring implant security.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant transitions from a compressed low-profile state during insertion to an expanded high-profile state after placement. This dynamic transformation allows the implant to be inserted through a small opening without drilling, then expand to securely contact the vertebral surfaces, resolving the contradiction between easy insertion and secure fixation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a small opening is created for implant insertion, then tissue damage is minimized, but the implant cannot be securely held
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is inserted in a compressed, low-profile state through a small opening in the tissue, similar to nesting a smaller object inside a larger one. After insertion, the implant expands to its full size within the vertebral body, achieving secure fixation without requiring a large incision or drilling, thus minimizing tissue damage while ensuring reliable implant holding.
3Reliability
If the implant is inserted at full size, then secure contact with vertebral surfaces is achieved, but the insertion opening must be large
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is designed to dynamically change size from a compressed low-profile state during insertion to an expanded high-profile state after placement. This allows the implant to pass through a small opening in its compressed state, then expand to achieve full contact with the vertebral surfaces, resolving the contradiction between minimal opening size and adequate surface contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant is prepared in a compressed, low-profile state before insertion, allowing it to pass through a small opening. After insertion, the implant is then expanded to its full size to achieve secure contact with the vertebral surfaces. This preliminary compression action enables minimal tissue disruption while ensuring adequate implant-vertebra contact area.
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 implant achieves secure fusion and stabilization with high compressive strength, minimizing the risk of cortical bone compromise and facilitating the passage of osteogenic materials for enhanced bone integration, thus addressing the limitations of existing implants in spinal fusion and vertebroplasty.
Implementation Method 1
The implant is introduced into a chosen site at a first, smaller height and then plastically deformed to achieve a second, but unique, pre-selected, larger height
Data Source
AI summary
Described here are deformable, monolithic, stabilization implants suitable for use within bone and between bones to fuse vertebral bodies, to repair herniated discs, or to repair spinal compression fractures. The implants are introduced into a chosen site at a first, smaller height and then plastically deformed to achieve a second, but unique, pre-selected, larger height. Variations of the device provide one or more specific larger heights. The devices are suitable as intervertebral spinal fusion implants for the immobilization of adjacent vertebral bodies. Methods of and instruments for deployment of the implants are also described. Also described are variations of the device suitable as sizing instruments.