Expandable Implant Assembly With Multi-Functional Attachment Port
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal implants, such as expandable interbody and intravertebral devices, face challenges in achieving precise expansion and stabilization within the vertebral space, limiting their ability to adapt to individual patient needs and ensuring secure fixation.
Innovation Solution
An expandable implant assembly with a base member and an adjustable member, featuring an attachment port for tool positioning and a coupling fastener for plate attachment, allows for customizable expansion and secure bone screw installation, enabling precise placement and stabilization between vertebral bodies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the implant is made expandable to allow customizable sizing, then adaptability to patient needs is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components and mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into a base member and an adjustable member that can move relative to each other. The base member contains the attachment port while the adjustable member provides the expansion capability through relative movement, allowing customizable sizing while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment port is designed with multi-functionality to receive both installation tools during positioning and coupling fasteners for plate attachment. This universal interface reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby managing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
2Reliability
If the implant is designed with multiple attachment points for plates and screws, then stabilization is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to more complex assembly requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment port serves multiple functions: receiving installation tools during positioning and receiving coupling fasteners for plate attachment. This multi-functional design simplifies the overall assembly process while maintaining reliable stabilization through secure fastening capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling fastener acts as an intermediary component that simplifies the connection between the plate and the expandable implant. By providing a standardized fastening mechanism, it reduces the complexity of assembly operations while ensuring reliable stabilization.
3Ease of operation
If the implant allows tool access during positioning, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for integrated tool reception features
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment port is designed as a universal interface that receives both installation tools during positioning and coupling fasteners for final attachment. This multi-functional feature enables easy operation during implantation while the integrated design manages device complexity by avoiding separate components.
Data Source
AI summary
An implant assembly includes an expandable implant, the expandable implant including a base member and an adjustable member movable relative to the base member such that the implant is movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The base member includes an attachment port. The implant assembly further includes a plate configured to be coupled to expandable implant when the expandable implant is in the expanded configuration, a coupling fastener configured to couple the plate to the expandable implant, and at least one bone screw configured to extend through the plate and into an adjacent portion of bone. The attachment port is configured to receive an installation tool during positioning of the expandable implant and to receive the coupling fastener to couple the plate to the expandable implant.