Expandable Spinal Implant with Adjustable Pivoting Supports
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spinal implants, particularly interbody and intravertebral devices, are often static in size, making them cumbersome for microsurgical procedures and limiting their adaptability to individual patient needs, as they must be large enough to bridge vertebral gaps effectively.
Innovation Solution
The development of expandable implants with adjustable components, including upper and lower main supports and pivoting supports, allowing for rotational and translational adjustments to accommodate varying vertebral spacings, enabling precise fitting and expansion within the spinal column.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If static sized spinal devices are used to properly bridge the gap between adjacent vertebrae, then the device size must be large, but this large size does not lend itself to microsurgery, arthroscopic surgery or the like
Solution Approach 1:
The implant transitions from a static size to a dynamic, adjustable size. The device is inserted in a compressed state to facilitate surgical access, then expanded in situ to achieve the necessary size for bridging vertebral gaps, combining the advantages of small insertion profile with large functional size
Solution Approach 2:
The implant employs a nested structure where the upper and lower support assemblies are compressed together during insertion, allowing the device to fit through small surgical openings while maintaining the capability to expand to full functional size after placement
2Ease of operation
If expandable devices are used to allow smaller initial size for easier insertion, then surgical accessibility is improved, but the device requires complex adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into distinct segments (upper support assembly and lower support assembly) that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows for controlled expansion through simple relative translation and rotation of the assemblies, reducing the complexity of the adjustment mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple adjustment functions (height adjustment, angle adjustment, spacing control) are merged into a single integrated mechanism where translation of the upper assembly relative to the lower assembly simultaneously achieves all these adjustments, simplifying the overall device complexity
3Device complexity
If static devices are used, then device structure is simple, but adaptability to individual patient needs is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The device allows for in-situ adjustment of critical parameters including height, spacing, and angular orientation after implantation. This enables the same basic device structure to be adapted to various patient-specific anatomical requirements without requiring multiple different device sizes or configurations
Data Source
AI summary
An expandable implant includes an upper main support, a lower main support, an upper pivoting support, and a lower pivoting support. The upper main support and the upper pivoting support are configured to engage a first portion of bone, and the lower main support is coupled to the upper main support and configured to engage a second portion of bone. The upper main support is adjustable relative to the lower main support to adjust height of the implant. The upper pivoting support is rotatably movable relative to the upper main support. The lower pivoting support is coupled to the upper pivoting support, configured to engage the second bone portion, and is rotatably movable relative to the lower main support. Adjusting the upper main support relative to the lower main support causes adjustment of the upper pivoting support relative to the lower pivoting support.