Laterally Expandable Spinal Implant With Pivoting Wings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spinal implants often experience subsidence into vertebral endplates due to limited contact area and instability, leading to recurring back pain and compromised spinal stability, as they are difficult to optimally place and secure within the intervertebral disc space.
Innovation Solution
A laterally expandable spinal implant with pivoting wings and shaft-driven wedges that expand to secure against vertebral endplates, increasing contact area and stability by distributing load more evenly and facilitating bone growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional spinal implants are used with limited contact area, then implant placement is simpler, but implant subsidence into vertebral endplates occurs and spinal stability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into a central body and multiple expandable wings that can be independently deployed. The wings are initially contained within the central body in a compressed state, then expanded laterally to increase contact area with vertebral endplates, thereby improving spinal stability without compromising implantation simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The implant transitions from a static, fixed-geometry structure to a dynamic, adaptable structure. The wings can expand and contract laterally in response to applied forces, allowing the implant to adapt its contact area with the vertebral endplates to optimize both initial placement and long-term stability
2Ease of manufacture
If spinal implant contact area with endplates is limited, then implant insertion is easier, but bone growth is limited and fusion outcomes are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The implant expands from a one-dimensional linear structure to a two-dimensional or three-dimensional structure by deploying wings laterally in the radial dimension. This dimensional transition dramatically increases the contact surface area with vertebral endplates, providing enhanced mechanical support for bone growth while maintaining straightforward insertion through the intervertebral disc space
3Ease of operation
If implant subsides into vertebral endplates over time, then initial implantation is simpler, but pain relief duration is reduced and spinal stability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The implant modifies its physical parameters over time through controlled expansion. The wings are initially compressed during insertion to facilitate easy implantation, then gradually expand to increase contact area and distribute loads more effectively, preventing subsidence and extending the duration of pain relief and spinal stability
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used for spinal implant, then component assembly is more flexible, but optimal placement within intervertebral disc space becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional components (central body, wings, expansion mechanism) are merged into a single integrated implant unit. This unified structure maintains the adaptability and versatility of multiple components while eliminating the complexity of assembling and positioning separate pieces within the constrained intervertebral disc space, ensuring optimal placement
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 solution enhances spinal stability and bone growth, reduces the likelihood of implant subsidence, and extends the duration of pain relief by securely fixing the implant, thereby improving fusion outcomes and reducing surgical effort.
Implementation Method 1
shaft-driven wedges coupled with the wings and adapted to force the wedges out laterally from the central body
Implementation Method 2
wings may pivot along a hinge axis to swing outward from the implant central body until they press against vertebral endplates superior and inferior
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and associated methods relate to a laterally expandable spinal implant configured with pivoting wings adapted to secure the implant when inserted between vertebrae with stabilizing force applied to the vertebrae by shaft-driven wedges coupled with the wings. In an illustrative example, the wings may pivot along a hinge axis to swing outward from the implant central body until they press against vertebral endplates superior and inferior. The hinge may be, for example, disposed longitudinally to the implant central body. In some examples, four wings may be mounted axially in the implant central body. Some embodiments may include shaft-driven wedges coupled with the wings and adapted to force the wedges out laterally from the central body. Various examples may advantageously provide improved post-implant spinal stability, enhanced post-implant bone growth, and increased implant contact area with bone, based on the implant pressing the wings against the endplates as the shaft rotates.