Expandable Interbody Cage With Screw-Linkage Lordosis Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intervertebral fusion devices for spinal surgery involve lengthy operations, risk of nerve injury, and hip pain due to bone graft harvesting, and require complex implantation techniques.
Innovation Solution
An expandable interbody device with a drive block, linkage block, and endplates that expand to stabilize the spinal joint, using a drive screw to adjust the position and lordosis, allowing for minimal invasive implantation and bone fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional bone graft harvesting is used for intervertebral fusion, then bone fusion can be achieved, but operation time increases and risk of nerve injury and hip pain increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the bone graft harvesting step from the surgical procedure by using allograft bone substitutes that can be implanted directly into the intervertebral space, eliminating the need to harvest bone from the patient's hip and thereby reducing operation time and associated risks
Solution Approach 2:
The expandable interbody device serves as an intermediary structure that provides immediate spinal stabilization and facilitates bone fusion without requiring traditional bone graft harvesting, acting as a mediator between the vertebral bodies to achieve fusion
2Reliability
If traditional bone graft harvesting is used for intervertebral fusion, then bone fusion can be achieved, but risk of nerve injury and hip pain increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the harmful element of bone graft harvesting from the surgical procedure by substituting it with allograft bone substitutes and an expandable interbody device, thereby eliminating the source of nerve injury and hip pain risks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of invasive bone harvesting into a beneficial minimally invasive procedure by using expandable interbody devices that can be inserted through smaller incisions and provide effective bone fusion without the associated risks
3Loss of time
If expandable interbody device is used, then surgical invasiveness is minimized and operation time is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable interbody device employs dynamic expansion mechanism where the device is inserted in a compressed state and then expanded within the intervertebral space, allowing minimally invasive insertion followed by in-situ expansion to achieve proper fit and stabilization
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes a nested structure where the expandable cage is contained within an insertion tool or delivery system, allowing the complex expandable structure to be delivered through a minimally invasive approach by nesting the complex component within a simpler delivery mechanism
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 expandable interbody device provides enhanced stability and minimizes surgical invasiveness by expanding to fit the spinal space, reducing operation time and risk of nerve injury while promoting bone fusion.
Implementation Method 1
The drive screw is rotatably coupled at least partially in the drive block opening or linkage block opening and is threadingly disposed within the other of the linkage block opening or the drive block opening. Rotation of the drive screw causes movement of the linkage block relative to the drive block and movement of the first endplate relative to the second endplate.
Data Source
AI summary
An expandable interbody device used as a prosthesis during spinal surgery. The expandable interbody device is configured to be inserted into the space between spinal disks to provide stability. The expandable interbody device includes a drive block, a linkage block, a drive screw, a first endplate, a second endplate, and at least two linkages. Rotation of the drive screw causes movement of the linkage block relative to the drive block and/or movement of the first endplate relative to the second endplate.