Expandable Disc Implant via Posterior Lateral Approach
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal interbody fusion techniques are invasive and carry risks, such as damage to sensitive structures and prolonged recovery times, necessitating a more efficient and less traumatic approach for accessing the disc space and providing effective implantation of disc implants.
Innovation Solution
A disc implant device with a compliant hinge mechanism, formed from a planar sheet into a cylindrical configuration, allowing axial collapse and radial expansion, is inserted via a posterior to lateral approach, minimizing tissue damage and using a guide wire for precise placement, enabling the implant to expand radially within the disc space for support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional invasive approach is used to access the disc space for interbody fusion, then the disc space can be accessed and implant can be placed, but surgical trauma increases and recovery time prolongs
Solution Approach 1:
The implant device is divided into multiple expandable segments or arms that can be delivered through a minimally invasive pathway and then expanded within the disc space. This segmentation allows the implant to be introduced through smaller incisions while still providing comprehensive support within the disc space, reducing surgical trauma compared to traditional single-piece implants requiring larger access incisions
Solution Approach 2:
The implant device utilizes a nested configuration where collapsed or compressed segments are delivered through the surgical pathway and then expanded within the disc space. The segments can be nested within each other or within a delivery catheter during insertion, and then deployed to their full functional size within the disc space, enabling minimally invasive access while maintaining implant effectiveness
2Reliability
If a traditional invasive approach is used to access the disc space, then the disc space can be accessed, but risk to adjacent structures increases
Solution Approach 1:
A delivery catheter or guide wire serves as an intermediary tool that facilitates the insertion of the implant device through a minimally invasive pathway. The catheter provides a protected channel through which the implant can be delivered to the disc space, reducing direct tissue damage and minimizing risk to adjacent structures during the insertion process
Solution Approach 2:
The implant device transitions from a one-dimensional compressed or collapsed delivery state through the surgical pathway to a three-dimensional expanded configuration within the disc space. This dimensional transformation allows the implant to be introduced through narrow pathways while still providing full disc space coverage, reducing the need for large incisions and minimizing exposure to adjacent structures
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a minimally invasive approach is used, then surgical trauma is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The implant device incorporates dynamic elements that allow it to transition between different configurations - a compressed or collapsed delivery configuration for minimally invasive insertion and an expanded functional configuration for providing disc space support. The device includes expandable segments, balloons, or mechanical mechanisms that enable this dynamic transformation, accepting the increased structural complexity as necessary to achieve minimally invasive delivery while maintaining full functionality
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
This approach reduces surgical trauma, minimizes risk to adjacent structures, and allows for faster recovery by providing a less invasive method for interbody spinal fusion, enabling the procedure to potentially be performed on an outpatient basis with reduced healing time.
Implementation Method 1
a compliant hinge mechanism structure is provided between each rising arm member and each falling arm member, so that when a given arm segment of the disc implant device is axially collapsed and radially expanded along the compliant hinge mechanism structure
Data Source
AI summary
A disc implant device can be provided in a generally planar rectangular sheet having a first elongated side, a second elongated side opposing the first elongated side, a first end, and a second end opposing the first end. The generally planar rectangular sheet is structured with alternating segments of joint ridges, each segment of joint ridges being configured to form a spacing joint segment and alternating segments of arm ridges, each arm segment being configured to form a plurality of radially extending arms, the joint segments providing flexibility to the device. When the disc implant is folded or rolled from its planar configuration to a generally cylindrical configuration, the arm segments are axially collapsible and radially expandable such that in such a configuration, the implant includes segments of radially expanded arms separated by spacing joint segments.