Expandable Corpectomy Device With Bidirectional Length Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current spinal fixation devices lack the ability to adjust length bidirectionally and securely fix the length of the implant, which can lead to misalignment and instability in spinal applications.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable length corpectomy device with a two-piece body, articulating jaws, and a locking mechanism that allows for bidirectional length adjustment and secure fixation, incorporating a rotor, locking collar, and helical grooves for precise alignment and locking of surgical rods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If current spinal fixation devices are used, then the device structure is simple, but the device lacks bidirectional length adjustment capability and secure length fixation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelength adjustment capabilityVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The corpectomy device is divided into two separate body portions (first body portion and second body portion) that can move relative to each other, enabling bidirectional length adjustment. This segmentation allows the device to adapt to varying spinal orientations and lengths while maintaining structural integrity through the connection mechanism between the portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device incorporates a dynamic adjustment mechanism featuring a rotor with helical grooves and a locking collar that can transition between locked and unlocked states. This dynamic system allows the device to be adjusted bidirectionally during surgery and then securely fixed at the desired length, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If current spinal fixation devices are used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the device cannot provide secure length fixation leading to misalignment and instability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelength fixation stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates pre-configured helical grooves on the rotor and corresponding locking features on the locking collar that are manufactured in advance. These preliminary structural features enable secure length fixation without requiring complex assembly procedures, as the locking mechanism is inherently built into the device structure through precision manufacturing of the helical engagement features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If bidirectional length adjustment is implemented, then the device can accommodate varying spinal orientations, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespinal orientation accommodationVSAvoidmechanism structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor with helical grooves is nested within the body portions, and the locking collar is nested around the rotor assembly. This nested configuration allows the bidirectional adjustment mechanism to be compactly integrated into the device structure, minimizing the increase in overall device complexity while enabling full bidirectional length adjustment capability to accommodate varying spinal orientations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS8152851B2Expandable corpectomy device

Publication Date: 2012.04.10 SEASPINE ORTHOPEDICS CORP

AI summary

An adjustable length corpectomy device is provided with a means for providing bidirectional length adjustment and a means for selectively fixing the length of the implant.