Expandable Interbody Implant Ramp Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for spinal disorders such as degenerative disc disease and osteoporosis often require invasive surgical procedures and may not effectively restore lordosis or maintain bone graft contact, leading to incomplete relief of symptoms and potential subsidence.
Innovation Solution
An expandable interbody implant system with a piston and base component, driven by a multiple ramp mechanism, that can be inserted in a collapsed configuration and expanded via an actuator to restore sagittal balance and lordosis, minimizing bone removal and maintaining constant bone graft volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional interbody implants are used, then spinal fusion can be achieved, but extensive bone removal is required and lordosis restoration is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The implant transitions from a collapsed delivery configuration to an expanded deployed configuration after insertion. The body of the implant is movable relative to the endplates between a first position in the collapsed configuration and a second position in the expanded configuration, allowing minimal bone removal while achieving full implant function
Solution Approach 2:
The implant components are nested within each other in the collapsed configuration during delivery, with the body positioned within the endplates. This nesting allows the implant to be delivered through a minimally invasive approach without requiring extensive bone removal
2Shape
If traditional implants are used to restore lordosis, then spinal alignment can be improved, but bone graft contact may be lost leading to subsidence
Solution Approach 1:
The implant maintains dynamic adjustability after insertion through the movable body that can shift between positions. This allows continuous adjustment of lordosis restoration while maintaining contact with the bone graft, preventing subsidence by adapting to physiological loads
Solution Approach 2:
The implant changes its geometric parameters (height, lordosis angle) through the movement of the body between collapsed and expanded configurations. This parameter adjustment restores lordosis while maintaining bone graft contact through controlled expansion
3Shape
If the implant is inserted in expanded configuration, then lordosis can be restored immediately, but the surgical approach becomes more invasive
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is prepared in a collapsed configuration before insertion, making it compact for minimally invasive delivery. After insertion, the implant is then expanded to restore lordosis, separating the delivery phase from the expansion phase
Solution Approach 2:
The implant transitions from a collapsed delivery configuration to an expanded deployed configuration after insertion. This dynamic transformation allows minimally invasive insertion followed by immediate lordosis restoration without requiring invasive pre-expansion
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 system allows for minimally invasive fusion and decompression, providing effective relief from spinal disorders by expanding to restore lordosis and maintain bone graft contact, reducing the need for extensive bone removal and promoting stable vertebral alignment.
Implementation Method 1
The third component comprises a first ramp and a second ramp axially spaced apart from the first ramp. The actuator is engageable with the third component to effect axial translation of the third component such that the ramps engage the inner surface of one of the first component and the second component to move the components between a first, collapsed configuration and a second, expanded configuration.
Data Source
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
An intervertebral implant comprises a first component and a second component. The second component includes an actuator and a third component comprises a first ramp and a second ramp axially spaced apart from the first ramp. The third component comprises rails including at least a portion of the ramps. At least one of the ramp portions disposed with the first rail has a first height and at least one of the ramp portions disposed with the second rail has a second height. The first height is greater than the second height. The actuator is engageable with the third component to effect axial translation such that the ramps engage at least one of the components between a first configuration and a second configuration. Methods of use are disclosed.