Expandable Spinal Interbody Device Linkage Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal interbody devices face challenges in achieving optimal surface engagement with vertebrae, leading to potential subsidence due to their size and weight, and require larger incisions for implantation, which can complicate surgical procedures and recovery.
Innovation Solution
A radially expandable spinal interbody device made from biocompatible materials like titanium or stainless steel, featuring arced, pivoting linkages that collapse for minimally invasive insertion and expand to mimic vertebral anatomy, ensuring maximum surface contact and stability with locking features to prevent overextension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the interbody device is made larger to provide better surface engagement with vertebrae, then stability and subsidence resistance improve, but the incision size and surgical complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The interbody device is divided into multiple collapsible segments or struts that can be compressed into a compact configuration for minimal incision insertion, then expanded at the implantation site to provide full surface engagement and stability. This segmentation allows the device to transition from a small insertable form to a large stable form.
Solution Approach 2:
The interbody device incorporates dynamic expandability, transitioning from a collapsed low-profile state during insertion to an expanded high-volume state for final implantation. This dynamic transformation allows the device to adapt its size: small during surgery for minimal incision, large after implantation for maximum stability and subsidence resistance.
2Ease of operation
If the interbody device is made smaller for minimally invasive procedures, then incision size and surgical recovery improve, but surface engagement and stability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The interbody device employs a nested configuration where internal components are collapsed or folded within each other to create a compact delivery profile. This nested state allows minimal incision insertion, while the device can be deployed outward to its full functional size for stable implantation and vertebral engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions dynamically from a compact collapsed state optimized for minimal incision insertion to an expanded stable state optimized for surface engagement. This dynamic size transformation resolves the contradiction by allowing the device to be small during insertion and large during function.
3Reliability
If the interbody device is made more robust to prevent subsidence, then stability improves, but the device weight and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The interbody device uses dynamic expandability to achieve high stability and subsidence resistance only when needed in the implanted state, while maintaining low weight during delivery. The device collapses to a lightweight compact form for insertion, then expands to a robust high-volume form for load-bearing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is segmented into multiple structural elements that can be collapsed together for lightweight delivery, then deployed to create a distributed load-bearing structure. This segmentation allows the weight to be minimized during insertion while providing robust subsidence resistance through the expanded segmented framework.
Data Source
AI summary
A spinal interbody device includes a base link having a first end and a second end, a linkage including a first link having a first end coupled to the first end of the base link and a second end, and a second link having a first end coupled to the second end of the first link and a second end coupled to the second end of the base link. The base link and the first and second links define top and bottom surfaces configured to engage adjacent portions of bone, and first and second sides extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The device further includes at least one radiographic element provided in at least one of the first link and the second link and positioned such that the radiographic element provides an indication of a degree of expansion of the device when the device is imaged from one of the first side and the second side of the device.