Dynamic Spinal Implant Tool System for Minimally Invasive Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional spinal surgery tools are invasive and unsuitable for percutaneous or minimally invasive procedures, causing tissue trauma and immobilizing the spine, which can lead to rapid degeneration and hyper-mobility of adjacent spinal joints.
Innovation Solution
A tool assembly with independently movable parts and stabilizers allows for the precise insertion and manipulation of bone screws and dynamic stabilization connecting members, minimizing surgical invasion and enabling natural spinal flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional spinal surgery tools are used for percutaneous or minimally invasive procedures, then the surgical invasion is reduced, but the tools cause tissue trauma due to their bulky design and irregular surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The tool assembly is divided into multiple separate components including a guide tool, stabilizer, and bone attachment structure. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for minimal invasiveness while maintaining functionality, as the components can be inserted separately through small incisions rather than requiring a single large tool
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizer is extracted as a separate component that can be attached to the bone attachment structure. This allows the stabilizer to be positioned precisely without requiring bulky integrated tooling, reducing tissue trauma while maintaining operational effectiveness
2Strength
If rigid longitudinal connecting members are used to stabilize the spine, then spinal support and alignment are improved, but natural spinal flexibility is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from static rigid rods to dynamic stabilization systems where the connecting member allows controlled motion. The bone attachment structure with stabilizer enables the spine to maintain strength while accommodating natural movements in flexion, extension, and rotation
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting member parameters are changed from completely rigid to dynamically flexible, allowing the system to provide spinal support while maintaining adaptability to physiological movements. This parameter change enables both strength and flexibility to coexist
3Stability of the object's composition
If fusion is performed to immobilize vertebrae, then spinal stability is improved, but adjacent spinal joints experience rapid degeneration and hyper-mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic stabilization system performs preliminary anti-action by maintaining controlled flexibility at the treated level, thereby preventing the hyper-mobility and degeneration that would otherwise occur at adjacent joints. This preliminary measure counteracts the negative effects of immobilization before they can manifest
Data Source
AI summary
A tool set for implanting bone screws in a human spine, followed by the implantation of a longitudinal connecting member into the bone screws includes a pair of independently mountable and manipulatable elongate guide tools that form a unitary tool guide when desired. Each guide tool includes attachment structure for independent operable connection of the guide tool to an arm of the bone screw. The bone screw/guide tool attachment includes an undercut and/or recess so as to resist separation of the guide tool member from an attached bone screw. A removable stabilizer cooperating with the pair of guide tools places such tools in a set spaced relation to one another when desired. Further tools include a cooperating bone screw driver with an attached stabilizer, a closure starter/reduction tool, a closure driver and a counter torque tool.