Expandable Mesh Spinal Implant With Precise Filler Delivery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spinal fusion procedures face challenges in maintaining spinal stability during the fusion process, which can lead to instability and potential failure of vertebrae fusion, necessitating a spinal implant that provides stability and is easily implantable to minimize trauma and complications.
Innovation Solution
A spinal implant device with a mesh portion for receiving bone void filler, expandable to interface with adjacent vertebrae, combined with a delivery system for precise placement and deployment, allowing for the delivery of bone void filler to enhance fusion success.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spinal implant is designed to provide stability during fusion, then spinal stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mesh implant is nested within the delivery device during insertion, allowing the complex mesh structure to be delivered through a simpler, more manageable delivery system. The mesh portion is contained within the delivery device's housing or channel, and is deployed by expanding or unfolding it at the target site, thus providing stability while maintaining ease of delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The implant is pre-shaped or pre-configured in a compressed state within the delivery device, allowing it to be inserted first and then expanded to its final stable configuration. This preliminary compression allows the complex mesh structure to be delivered through a smaller opening while still providing the required stability when deployed
2Reliability
If a mesh implant with bone void filler is used to promote fusion, then fusion success is improved, but surgical trauma increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mesh implant and bone void filler are combined into a single integrated device, allowing both the structural support function and the bone regeneration function to be performed simultaneously through one implantation procedure, thereby reducing the need for separate surgical steps and minimizing trauma
Solution Approach 2:
The bone void filler is nested within the mesh structure, allowing the filler material to be delivered through the same delivery device that inserts the mesh implant. This eliminates the need for separate filler injection procedures and reduces surgical trauma while ensuring proper placement of both components
3Ease of operation
If the mesh portion is compressed during delivery, then ease of implantation is improved, but structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The mesh implant is designed with dynamic properties that allow it to transition from a compressed, flexible state during delivery to a rigid, stable state when deployed. The mesh structure may include shape memory materials or elastic properties that enable it to recover its original configuration and maintain structural integrity after compression
Solution Approach 2:
The mesh implant utilizes a flexible, thin-walled structure that can be compressed for delivery but maintains sufficient structural integrity when deployed. The mesh material is engineered to be flexible enough for compression yet strong enough to provide spinal stability when expanded, balancing ease of implantation with structural requirements
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 spinal implant system stabilizes the spine during fusion, facilitating successful fusion by distributing load and promoting bone integration, while minimizing surgical trauma and complications.
Implementation Method 1
The mesh portion may be compressed during delivery and expanded upon deployment
Implementation Method 2
The mesh portion may be permeable such that the bone void filler may permeate through the mesh portion
Data Source
AI summary
A spinal implant and a delivery system for spinal surgery. The delivery device may be configured to deliver, articulate, and deploy the spinal implant in a disc space between a pair of vertebrae, and to deliver or inject a bone void filler to the spinal implant for deployment of the expandable mesh component. A mesh component may provide a reservoir for larger volumes of bone void filler and greater surface area for load distribution of the spinal cage. The mesh component may include pores through which bone void filler may interdigitate against the vertebral endplates. The delivery device may include a handle having components operable to attach the spinal implant for insertion, position and orient the spinal implant in a desired location and orientation and detach the spinal implant in place. A syringe, syringe gun, and/or packing rod may be utilized to deliver bone void filler through the delivery device.