Dynamic Spinal Plate Segmentation for Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dynamic cervical plates face challenges in visibility during implantation, making intermediate screw fixation difficult due to increased width, and lack of visualization complicates proper vertebral alignment and distribution of forces across the spine, potentially leading to improper fusion and alignment.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic spinal plating system with a design featuring a plate with superior and inferior ends, lateral sides forming an opening, and bone attachment mechanisms that allow for sliding screw holes to accommodate vertebral movement, including a screw with cantilever tabs for secure fixation and a stop mechanism to prevent screw backout, enhancing dynamism and ease of implantation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic cervical plates are used to allow vertebral movement and adjust height, then the plate can accommodate vertebral body height decrease over time, but the increased width of the plate makes visibility and intermediate screw fixation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic cervical plate is divided into multiple segments including a head plate, intervening shaft, and end plate that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows the plate to accommodate vertebral height changes while maintaining a narrower profile at any given level, improving visibility during implantation.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate design transitions from a static two-dimensional structure to a three-dimensional dynamic structure with multiple degrees of freedom. The head plate and end plate can move vertically relative to the intervening shaft, allowing height adjustment while maintaining a compact lateral profile that improves surgical visibility.
2Stability of the object's composition
If dynamic plates are designed to be wider to provide better support, then the plate can maintain stability, but it becomes difficult to visualize the spine and properly align vertebral bodies with the plate
Solution Approach 1:
The plate is segmented into multiple components that can move independently, allowing the overall structure to remain stable while individual segments maintain a narrower profile that improves visualization during alignment and implantation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If static rigid plates are used to maintain alignment, then the vertebral alignment is fixed and stable, but the plate cannot adjust to vertebral body height decrease over time
Solution Approach 1:
The plate design incorporates dynamic elements including slots, holes, and movable connections between the head plate, intervening shaft, and end plate that allow vertical movement and adjustment. This enables the plate to adapt to vertebral height changes while maintaining stable vertebral alignment through the dynamic equilibrium of the segmented structure.
Data Source
AI summary
Dynamic spinal plating systems that can be placed on the anterior aspect of the spine to aid in spinal fusion and surgical methods for using the dynamic spinal plating systems are disclosed. The dynamic spinal plating systems including a plate and at least one bone attachment mechanism. The plate including a superior end with at least one screw hole, an inferior end, and two lateral sides forming an opening that is transverse by the bone attachment mechanism. The dynamic spinal plating systems also include at least one screw plate with a center screw hole and two passageways that mate with two transverse members of the bone attachment mechanism. When implanted the vertebral stabilization devices may provide a degree of movement in the superior-inferior direction providing for a minimal change in length as the patient moves and as vertebral body height decreases.