Expandable Interspinous Fixation Device for Minimal Incision Spinal Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vertebral fixation devices require manual operation, which can be complex and fatiguing, and often necessitate substantial openings for insertion, making it difficult to achieve accurate anatomical fit and maintain normal vertebral body distance without pre-distracting adjacent vertebral bodies.
Innovation Solution
An expandable interspinous process fixation system that allows for insertion at a reduced height with adjustable endplates and sliding plates, enabling expansion to achieve an accurate anatomical fit, reducing the complexity of the procedure and eliminating the need for multiple implant sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional fixation devices are used, then vertebral bodies can be fixed, but the procedure requires substantial openings for insertion and pre-distraction of adjacent vertebral bodies
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation device utilizes a nested structure where the cage is inserted within the spinous process space, and the expansion mechanism is contained within the cage structure. This nested arrangement allows the device to be inserted through a minimal incision and then expanded in situ to achieve the desired fixation effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixation device incorporates an expandable mechanism that transitions from a compressed insertion state to an expanded fixation state. This dynamic transformation allows the device to be inserted through a small opening and then expanded within the intervertebral space to provide stable fixation without requiring pre-distraction of vertebral bodies.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional fixation devices are used, then vertebral fixation can be achieved, but multiple implant sizes are required to accommodate different anatomical variations
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation device is designed with universal adaptability through its expandable mechanism and adjustable lateral positioning capability. A single device design can accommodate various anatomical configurations by adjusting the expansion degree and lateral plate positions, eliminating the need for multiple pre-fabricated implant sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities including expandable height and adjustable lateral plate positions. This allows the same implant to be customized intraoperatively to fit different anatomical variations, providing precise anatomical fit without requiring multiple implant sizes.
3Reliability
If conventional fixation devices are used, then spinal stabilization can be achieved, but the procedure requires pre-distraction of adjacent vertebral bodies which complicates the surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation device employs a dynamic expansion mechanism that allows the cage to be inserted in a compressed state and then expanded in situ to the desired height. This eliminates the need for pre-distriction of adjacent vertebral bodies, as the device itself provides the distraction force during expansion, thereby simplifying the surgical procedure while maintaining reliable vertebral stabilization.
4Manufacturing precision
If expandable fixation devices are used, then precise anatomical fit can be achieved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable mechanism is nested within the cage structure, with the expansion mechanism contained inside the cage body. This nested design achieves precise anatomical fit through controlled expansion while maintaining a relatively simple external device structure that is easy to handle and insert.
Data Source
AI summary
An expandable interspinous process fixation system capable of restoring spinal stability and facilitating fusion. In one embodiment, the expandable interspinous process fixation system includes a central ramp, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the central ramp capable of being moved in a first direction to move the first and second endplates outwardly and into an expanded configuration. Each endplate supporting fixed and/or adjustable spinous process engaging plates.