Expandable Interbody Implant with Adjustable Shims for Spinal Realignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mechanically operated interbody implants for spinal procedures, particularly in the cervical region, have a large footprint and cumbersome mechanisms that reduce available space for fusion, making them unsuitable for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgeries and limiting the applicable volume for spinal realignment and fusion processes.
Innovation Solution
An expandable interbody implant with hingedly coupled superior and inferior endplates and adjustable shims that allow for expansion between a collapsed and expanded position, enabling precise adjustment of spacing and angle of inclination between the endplates, facilitating better spinal realignment and fusion without the need for large mechanical mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional mechanical mechanisms are used to separate endplates, then spinal realignment function is achieved, but implant footprint becomes large and available space for fusion is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shim is inserted into the interior space of the implant body, nesting the adjustment mechanism within the existing structure. This eliminates the need for external mechanical mechanisms, reducing the implant footprint while maintaining spinal realignment functionality through adjustable shim placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation mechanism is extracted from the implant structure entirely. Instead of using mechanical means integrated into the implant, the system uses directly placeable shims that can be inserted and adjusted independently, simplifying the overall structure and reducing footprint.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional mechanical mechanisms are used to separate endplates, then spinal realignment function is achieved, but available volume for fusion process is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shim adjustment mechanism is nested within the implant's interior space, utilizing the existing volume rather than occupying additional space. This preserves maximum available volume for the fusion process while enabling spinal realignment through internal shim placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex mechanical separation mechanism is extracted and replaced with simple, space-efficient shims that can be directly inserted into the implant interior. This extraction eliminates unnecessary mechanical components that would otherwise consume valuable fusion space.
3Area of stationary object
If expandable design with shims is used, then implant footprint is reduced and insertion is simplified, but mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is segmented into modular components: the implant body and separate shims. This segmentation allows the shims to be independently selected and inserted in various configurations, reducing the need for complex integrated mechanisms while maintaining adjustability and reducing footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant transitions from a static structure to a dynamic, adjustable system through the addition of shims. The shims can be inserted at different positions and orientations to achieve various spacing and inclination angles, providing dynamic adjustment capability without requiring complex mechanical mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
An expandable implant may include a superior endplate and an inferior endplate. The superior endplate may have at least one track extending in a proximal-to-distal direction and an inferior endplate may have at least one track extending in the proximal-to-distal direction. An adjusting shim may be disposed within the at least one track to adjust a spacing and angle of inclination of the implant. Some embodiments may include a plurality of tracks for adjusting a spacing and an angle of inclination between the superior endplate and the inferior endplate. Some embodiments may be configured to adjust an orientation of the implant relative to a disc space in both the sagittal plane and the coronal plane. Various embodiments disclosed herein may be used in an Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF), Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), or a lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (LLIF) procedure, for example.