Expandable Intervertebral Implant Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current interbody fusion methods using bone alone in spinal surgery often result in high rates of bone graft migration or nonunion due to structural failure and residual motion, which complicates achieving stable spinal fusion.
Innovation Solution
An expandable intervertebral implant with a locking pin assembly and multiple plates that can be adjusted to fit between vertebral elements, allowing for bone growth and fusion by expanding to a desired length, providing immediate stability and facilitating bony union.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bone graft alone is used for interbody fusion, then the procedure is simple, but the success rate is low due to graft migration and nonunion
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into multiple plates (first plate, second plate, third plate, fourth plate) connected by movable joints, allowing each segment to be independently positioned and locked. This segmentation enables the implant to adapt to irregular spinal geometries while providing stable fixation to prevent graft migration and promote fusion success.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant incorporates movable joints between plates that allow dynamic adjustment of the implant configuration during insertion and expansion. The locking mechanism transitions from a dynamic state (allowing expansion and adjustment) to a static locked state, providing immediate stability while accommodating surgical positioning needs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-length implant is used, then the device is simple, but it cannot adapt to varying spinal spacing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The implant uses movable joints connecting multiple plates, allowing the overall length and configuration to be dynamically adjusted during surgery to match the specific spinal spacing requirements. After positioning, the locking mechanism secures the configuration, providing both adaptability and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The expandable implant design allows smaller components to be nested within larger ones during insertion, with the ability to expand outward to fill the intervertebral space. This nested structure enables compact delivery while achieving the required size and adaptability in the implantation site.
3Stability of the object's composition
If an expandable implant with locking mechanism is used, then stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into multiple independent locking points at different joints, allowing selective locking of individual segments. This provides stable fixation while simplifying the operation, as each joint can be locked independently rather than requiring a complex system-wide locking mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is designed to be self-contained and self-locking, where the act of expanding or positioning the implant automatically engages the locking features. This reduces the need for additional complex locking components and procedures, achieving stability through the implant's own structural design.
Data Source
AI summary
An expandable intervertebral implant, including an inferior component, including a first plate, a second plate connected to the first plate and including a first plurality of locking apertures, and a third plate connected to the first plate and including a second plurality of locking apertures, a superior component slidingly engaged with the inferior component, including a fourth plate, a fifth plate connected to the fourth plate and including a third locking aperture, and a sixth plate connected to the fourth plate and including a fourth locking aperture, and a locking pin assembly arranged at least partially in the third and fourth locking apertures, and operatively arranged to engage the first and second pluralities of locking apertures to lock the expandable intervertebral implant.