Spinal Cage Elastic Sidewall for Vertebral Subsidence Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spinal cages inserted between vertebrae often experience subsidence due to inadequate pressure absorption, leading to surface subsidence into the vertebrae.
Innovation Solution
A spinal cage design featuring a bone support portion, a base portion, and a sidewall portion with an elastic band and inelastic bands, which includes a cross-sectional thickness that increases towards the edges and elastic unit bodies with deformable struts to absorb pressure and prevent subsidence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a solid metal cage structure is used to support vertebrae, then structural strength is improved, but pressure absorption capability deteriorates leading to subsidence
Solution Approach 1:
The sidewall portion is divided into multiple bands (first band, second band, third band) with different elasticity characteristics. Each band segment handles different aspects of load bearing and pressure distribution, allowing the structure to maintain strength while improving pressure absorption through distributed elastic deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different bands are assigned different elasticity properties - the first band has high elasticity for shock absorption, the second band has intermediate elasticity for structural support, and the third band has low elasticity for stability. This local differentiation allows the cage to simultaneously achieve strength and pressure absorption capability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid cage structure is used to maintain spinal height, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability to pressure and impact deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cage structure transitions from a completely rigid design to a dynamic system with bands of varying elasticity. The bands can deform elastically under pressure and impact loads, then return to their original position, allowing the cage to adapt to dynamic spinal loading while maintaining overall structural stability and height.
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 design effectively relieves pressure between vertebrae, preventing subsidence by allowing the cage to deform elastically and distribute forces, thereby maintaining spinal stability.
Implementation Method 1
the sidewall portion includes an elastic band 200 having elasticity and inelastic bands 110 and 120 having relatively lower elasticity than the elastic band or no elasticity
Data Source
AI summary
Proposed is a spinal cage. The spinal cage includes a bone support portion configured to be disposed between a first vertebra at an upper side and a second vertebra at a lower side to support the first vertebra, a base portion positioned at a lower side of the bone support portion to come in contact with the second vertebra, and a sidewall portion which has an upper side end connected to an edge of the bone support portion and a lower side end connected to an edge of the base portion and includes an elastic band having elasticity and inelastic bands having relatively lower elasticity or no elasticity. Therefore, subsidence of the spinal cage into vertebrae can be suppressed.