Expandable Inter-body Fusion Device with Hinged Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal implants have a fixed length and cannot adjust for varying anatomical spacing, limiting their ability to accommodate different curvatures and angles, which complicates surgical procedures and increases patient morbidity.
Innovation Solution
An expandable inter-body fusion device comprising two hingedly connected plates that allow for adjustable angular and spatial relationships, with optional ridges for vertebral engagement and a movable insert to set desired distances and angles, along with an end cap for retaining bone fusion material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed length spinal implant is used, then the device structure is simple, but the implant cannot adjust for varying anatomical spacing and curvatures
Solution Approach 1:
The spinal implant is divided into multiple segments or modules that can be independently adjusted. The implant includes a first portion and a second portion that can be positioned at different angles and distances, allowing customization to match the patient's specific anatomical requirements while maintaining a manageable structural complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities during the surgical procedure. Hinged connections and movable inserts allow the implant to be configured in real-time to match the patient's spine curvature and spacing requirements, transforming a static fixed-length implant into a dynamic adjustable structure that adapts to individual anatomical variations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple insertion instrumentation is used to adjust expansion, then the implant can accommodate different curvatures, but the surgical procedure becomes more complex and patient morbidity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The implant combines multiple adjustment functions into a single integrated device. The hinged connection mechanism and movable insert work together as a unified system that allows both angular and spatial adjustment through one instrument, eliminating the need for multiple separate insertion instrumentation and simplifying the surgical procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant is designed as a multi-functional device that can perform various adjustment operations. The same hinged connection mechanism enables both angular adjustment and spatial positioning, while the movable insert serves multiple purposes including distance setting and angle modification, reducing the number of specialized tools needed during surgery.
3Ease of manufacture
If a fixed length spacer is implanted, then the implant is easy to manufacture, but it cannot minimize surgical incision size for multipurpose use
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is manufactured as modular segments that can be assembled in different configurations. The first and second portions can be produced using standard manufacturing processes and then combined through hinged connections, maintaining ease of manufacture while enabling size minimization through selective assembly based on patient requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant incorporates dynamic collapse or compression capabilities that allow it to be inserted in a compact form and then expanded to the desired size. The hinged connections and movable inserts enable the implant to minimize surgical incision size during insertion while still achieving the necessary spinal spacing and curvature correction when fully deployed.
Data Source
AI summary
An expandable inter-body fusion device is presented. The expandable inter-body fusion device has a first plate and a second plate that can be manipulated to change the height and angle of lordosis. Also presented is a method of using an expandable inter-body fusion device in an inter-body fusion procedure, and a method of using an expandable trial to size the correct expandable inter-body fusion device for use in the aforementioned procedure.