Expandable Spinal Cage with Movable Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal surgery cages lack adjustability to fit varying patient anatomy, require longer surgical times due to two-piece designs, and may cause post-operative complications from inadequate bone grafting and material incompatibility.
Innovation Solution
An expandable cervical cage with a single body and movable element that can be adjusted in height using an expansion apparatus, allowing precise fitting between vertebrae and facilitating easier bone graft placement, made from biocompatible materials to minimize infection risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a single-piece cervical cage design is used, then the surgical procedure time is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the ability to adjust cage height to fit varying patient anatomy is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The cage body is divided into an upper body and a lower body that can move relative to each other. The movable element can be positioned at different heights within the cage body, allowing height adjustment while maintaining a single-piece integrated structure. This segmentation enables the cage to adapt to different patient anatomies without requiring multiple separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The cage incorporates a movable element that can be dynamically adjusted during the surgical procedure. The movable element is retained by retainers that can be positioned at different locations along the cage body, allowing the cage height to be adjusted dynamically to fit varying intervertebral distances while maintaining structural integrity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a two-piece cervical prosthesis with screw connection is used, then the ability to adjust height is improved, but the surgical procedure time increases and risk of post-operative complications increases
Solution Approach 1:
The upper body and lower body of the cage are merged into a single integrated structure with a movable element that can be positioned at different heights. This eliminates the need for separate components and complex screw connections while maintaining the ability to adjust cage height. The single-piece design reduces assembly time and eliminates connection-related complications.
Solution Approach 2:
Retainers serve as intermediary elements that connect the movable element to the cage body at different positions. These retainers allow height adjustment without requiring separate connection components, providing a simplified mechanism that reduces surgical time and eliminates the need for additional fixation hardware.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a two-piece cervical prosthesis with screw connection is used, then the ability to adjust height is improved, but the surgical complexity and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cage is designed as a single integrated piece with the movable element and retainers built into the structure. This merging of components eliminates the need for separate upper and lower bodies and external screw connections, reducing device complexity while maintaining height adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable element with adjustable retainers serves multiple functions: it provides height adjustment, maintains structural integrity, and eliminates the need for separate connection hardware. This multi-functional design reduces the overall number of components and simplifies the device structure.
4Ease of manufacture
If fixed-size cages are used based on average vertebral distances, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the ability to fit varying patient anatomies is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cage incorporates a movable element that can be adjusted to different positions within the cage body, allowing the final cage height to be customized for each patient's specific intervertebral distance. This dynamic adjustment capability enables a single cage design to fit multiple anatomical variations without requiring multiple fixed-size variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The cage height parameter can be changed during the surgical procedure by repositioning the movable element and retainers. This allows the same cage structure to be adapted to different patient anatomies by changing the effective height parameter, eliminating the need to manufacture multiple fixed-size cages.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an expandable cage (1) which is used in spinal surgery and which allows adjustment of distance between two vertebrae in which it is placed as preferred. An expandable cage (1) basically comprises: at least one body (2) which is located in emptied area between damaged vertebrae during the surgical procedure and serves as a disc; and at least one movable element (3) which is located on the body (2) and is fitted in the opening made in the body (2) by means of the retainers (3.1) disposed at the sides thereof; which has a toothed surface (3.2) contacting with the upper vertebra and being attached to it; and the height of which can be adjusted by pushing the protrusion (3.3) provided in the lower portion thereof according to the intervertebral distance of patient by means of the expansion apparatus (E).