Expandable Intervertebral Disc Prosthetic with Pressure Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for inserting between anatomical structures often face challenges such as excessive invasion, damage to adjacent structures, or over-distraction during insertion or expansion, which limits their effectiveness as implants or temporary distractors for surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
An expandable intervertebral disc prosthetic device with a hollow cylinder made of expandable material, such as rubber, that can be inflated to provide stabilization and support between vertebrae, featuring circumferential retaining members to constrain radial expansion and a sensor to monitor fluid pressure for precise expansion control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a device is inserted between anatomical structures to stabilize or distract them, then the structures can be stabilized or distracted as needed, but excessive invasion or damage to adjacent anatomical structures may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable device is inserted in a compressed state within a delivery system, then expanded in situ between the anatomical structures. This nesting approach allows the device to be delivered through a minimally invasive path while achieving its full functional size at the target location, thereby stabilizing the structures without causing excessive invasion or damage to adjacent tissues during insertion.
2Ease of operation
If a device is inserted to distract anatomical structures to permit prosthesis implantation or surgical procedure, then access or space is created, but over-distraction may occur causing harm
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates a sensor that monitors the distraction force or position in real-time and provides feedback to the operator. This feedback mechanism allows precise control of the distraction process, enabling the creation of necessary surgical space while preventing over-distraction that could damage adjacent anatomical structures. The sensor ensures the device stops expanding when the desired distraction is achieved.
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 device effectively stabilizes the spine by maintaining a predetermined spatial relationship between vertebrae, minimizing invasion and damage, while allowing for controlled expansion to support or distract anatomical structures as needed for implantation or surgical access.
Implementation Method 1
a hollow cylinder made of expandable material, such as rubber, that can be inflated
Implementation Method 2
a sensor to monitor fluid pressure for precise expansion control
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical implantation procedure and a device for performing same according to which an expandable member is inserted between anatomical structures and expanded in one plane to cause relative movement between the structures. The expansion is terminated when the structures are in a predetermined spatial relationship.