Elastomeric Envelope Prosthesis for Minimally Invasive Disc Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for replacing degenerative intervertebral disc tissue with a prosthesis often cause significant trauma to surrounding bodily structures, particularly when performed in a minimally invasive manner, leading to prolonged healing times and risks associated with major invasive surgery.
Innovation Solution
A device and system comprising an elongate support member and a cover member forming an insertion assembly with a receiving zone for an expandable envelope, allowing minimally invasive insertion and expansion within the body, using a spatulate tip and filler conduit to position and fill an elastomeric envelope between bodily structures, minimizing trauma and facilitating self-healing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If minimally invasive techniques are used to replace intervertebral disc tissue, then trauma to surrounding bodily structures is reduced, but the complexity of the implantation device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The implantation device is divided into multiple functional components: an elongate support member with receiving zone, a cover member that can be removed, an expandable envelope, and a filler conduit. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while enabling minimally invasive insertion through a small incision.
Solution Approach 2:
The expandable envelope is nested within the receiving zone of the support member in a collapsed configuration during insertion. The filler conduit is then inserted through the cover member to fill the envelope. This nesting allows the entire implant system to be inserted through a small incision and then expanded to its functional size within the body.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an expandable envelope is used as the prosthesis, then adaptability to the disc volume is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The envelope is designed to be expandable from a collapsed configuration during insertion to an expanded configuration that conforms to the intervertebral disc volume. This dynamic transformation allows the prosthesis to adapt to the specific anatomical space available while maintaining a simple basic structure of just the envelope.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state of the envelope changes from collapsed to expanded through the introduction of filler material via the filler conduit. This parameter change (volume expansion) allows the prosthesis to adapt to the disc cavity without requiring a complex pre-formed structure, achieving adaptability through a simple material filling process.
Data Source
AI summary
A device (12) for implanting a tissue prosthesis comprises an elongate support member (14) having a proximal end (16) and a distal end (13), the support member (14) defining a recessed receiving zone 20 at a distal region for receiving at least a part (22) of the implant in a collapsed configuration. A cover member (24) having a proximal end (26) and a distal end (28) is arranged on the support member (14) to over at least the receiving zone (20) of the support member (14), the cover member (24) being removably arranged relative to the support member (14) to provide access to the receiving zone (20), the cover member (24) and the support member (14) together defining an insertion assembly (32). An insertion formation is defined at the distal end (18) of the insertion assembly (32) for facilitating insertion of at least a distal part of the insertion assembly (32) into position relative to a site in a patient's body in which the implant is to be located, in use, so that, upon removal of the cover member (24), the part (22) of the implant is positioned at the site.