Intervertebral Disc Prosthesis Insertion Guide with Angle Adjuster
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing instrumentation for inserting intervertebral disc prostheses only allows anterior access, which requires opening tissue and pushing aside blood vessels, posing risks to patients.
Innovation Solution
Development of instrumentation featuring a guide with lateral faces, upper and lower plates, a cage, and an angle adjuster that allows lateral or oblique insertion, enabling precise positioning relative to the sagittal and coronal planes, and includes a sighting device, pins, and separators to maintain a gap between vertebrae for safe prosthesis placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If anterior access is used for prosthesis insertion, then the prosthesis can be inserted along the antero-posterior axis, but tissue covering the vertebrae must be opened and blood vessels pushed aside, creating risk to the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guide with an angle adjuster that enables prosthesis insertion along oblique or lateral trajectories rather than strictly along the antero-posterior axis. The angle adjuster allows the guide to be positioned at various angles relative to the vertebrae, creating alternative insertion paths that bypass critical blood vessels and reduce tissue disruption while maintaining proper prosthesis alignment
2Object-affected harmful factors
If lateral or oblique insertion is enabled, then tissue disruption and risk to blood vessels are reduced, but precise positioning relative to the sagittal and coronal planes becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates sighting devices that provide visual feedback to the surgeon during guide positioning. These sighting devices include alignment markers and reference lines that allow the surgeon to verify the guide's orientation relative to the sagittal and coronal planes, ensuring precise prosthesis positioning even when using oblique or lateral insertion trajectories
3Adaptability or versatility
If a guide with angle adjuster is used, then multiple insertion angles can be achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide is designed as a segmented device with distinct functional components: a main guide body, a separate angle adjuster mechanism, and attachable sighting devices. This segmentation allows the angle adjuster to be independently positioned and locked at various angles without complicating the overall guide structure, maintaining versatility while managing device complexity through modular design
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of instrumentation and methods are provided for the insertion of intervertebral disc prosthesis. The instrumentation of the embodiments comprises a guide comprising at least two lateral faces, at least one upper plate, at least one lower plate, at least one retainer, a cage defining an insertion axis for the prosthesis, and an angle adjuster adapted to adjust an angle formed by the insertion axis and an antero-posterior sagittal axis; and at least one separator sized to maintain a gap between the upper vertebra and the lower vertebra. Methods for implanting a prosthesis using the disclosed instrumentation comprise implanting a pin in the median sagittal axis of a vertebrae; measuring the dimensions of the intervertebral space; choosing the prosthesis; choosing the guide; adjusting the angle adjuster; positioning the guide adjacent to the intervertebral space; inserting the prosthesis into the guide; and inserting the prosthesis into the intervertebral space.