Expandable Intervertebral Implant Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spinal implant assemblies require a multitude of sizes to accommodate various patient dimensions, leading to inventory challenges and inefficiencies in treating diverse spinal conditions.

Innovation Solution

An expandable intervertebral implant assembly with slidably movable support members and a retention member, featuring a face plate and arm member to maintain relative positions, along with bone screws and a retainer clip for secure fixation, allowing adjustment to different intervertebral spaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sizes of implants and face plates are provided to accommodate various patient dimensions, then adaptability to different patient populations is improved, but device complexity and inventory requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to various patient dimensionsVSAvoidnumber of different implant sizes and face plates

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The implant incorporates an expandable mechanism with movable support members that can be adjusted between different positions to accommodate various intervertebral space dimensions. This dynamic adjustment capability allows a single implant design to replace multiple fixed-size implants, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The single implant assembly is designed to perform multiple functions across different patient populations by adjusting the relative position of support members. The universal design eliminates the need for maintaining multiple specialized implant sizes in inventory, addressing both adaptability and complexity concerns

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sizes of face plates with different hole configurations are provided, then adaptability to various spinal configurations is improved, but inventory complexity and surgical selection time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to various spinal configurationsVSAvoidsurgical time for selecting and preparing implants

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The face plate is integrated with the expandable implant mechanism, allowing the entire assembly to be adjusted in situ rather than requiring pre-selection of multiple face plate variants. This reduces surgical decision time while maintaining adaptability to different spinal configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple functional elements (implant body, face plate, retention mechanisms) are merged into a single integrated assembly that can be adjusted post-insertion. This eliminates the need to inventory and select from multiple separate face plate sizes, reducing surgical complexity and time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8425613B2Expandable intervertebral implant

Publication Date: 2013.04.23 SPARTAN CAGE

AI summary

An intervertebral implant assembly includes first and second support members and a retention member. The first and second support members are configured to engage first and second vertebral bodies, respectively. The first and second support members define first and second guide portions, respectively. In particular, the first and second support members are slidably movable relative to each other. The retention member includes a face plate and an arm member extending from the face plate. The arm member is disposed between the first and second support members to maintain a relative position of the first and second support members. The face plate defines an access through hole in communication with the first and second guide portions.