Radially Expandable Spinal Interbody Device with Pivoting Linkages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal interbody devices face challenges in engaging maximum vertebral surface area for support, minimizing subsidence, and maintaining a small, lightweight structure while ensuring strength, especially in spinal fusion surgeries.
Innovation Solution
A radially expandable spinal interbody device with arced, pivoting linkages that can transform from a collapsed to an expanded state, mimicking vertebral anatomy, featuring locking mechanisms to prevent overextension, and a surgical tool for deployment, made from biocompatible materials like titanium or stainless steel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the interbody device is made larger to engage maximum vertebral surface area, then support and stability are improved, but the device becomes more difficult to implant minimally invasively
Solution Approach 1:
The interbody device employs an expandable structure that transitions from a compressed delivery state to an expanded deployed state. The device includes expandable elements such as balloons or mesh structures that can be inflated or expanded after insertion, allowing the device to achieve large vertebral surface engagement area only when needed, while maintaining small dimensions during implantation.
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes a nested configuration where the expandable interbody device is contained within a delivery catheter or sheath in a compressed state. Once positioned at the target site, the device is deployed by expanding it from within the delivery system, enabling minimal invasive access followed by full functional deployment.
2Strength
If the interbody device structure is made stronger to prevent subsidence, then device stability is improved, but device weight and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device applies strength and support features locally at critical contact points with the vertebral bodies, rather than uniformly throughout the entire device structure. The expandable elements provide focused radial expansion force at the anterior and posterior aspects where vertebral engagement is needed, while maintaining lighter construction in non-critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates composite material construction combining rigid structural elements for strength with lighter weight materials. The device may use combinations of metals, polymers, or ceramics to achieve adequate subsidence resistance while minimizing overall device weight and complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the interbody device is made smaller to facilitate minimal invasive surgery, then ease of implantation is improved, but vertebral surface engagement and support are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The device transitions dynamically from a small compressed state during delivery to a large expanded state during function. The expandable structure allows the device to achieve full vertebral surface engagement area only after successful positioning, optimizing both implantation ease and post-implantation support.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is nested within a delivery system in a compressed configuration for minimal invasive access, then deployed to achieve full functional size. This nested approach enables the device to pass through small access points while ultimately providing large vertebral surface engagement area.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the interbody device complexity is increased to enable radial expansion and anatomical mimicry, then device functionality is improved, but manufacturing and surgical procedure complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into modular segments or articulated components that can be manufactured separately and then assembled. The expandable structure may consist of multiple articulated links or expandable cells that can be produced using standardized manufacturing processes, reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite the complex final configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs universal joint mechanisms or standardized connection elements that enable the articulated structure to achieve various anatomical configurations. The same basic joint design can accommodate different expansion angles and orientations, reducing the number of unique components needed and simplifying manufacturing.
Data Source
AI summary
A spinal interbody device includes a base link having a first end and a second end, and a linkage including a first link having a first end and a second end and a second link having a first end and a second end. The first end of the first link is coupled to the first end of the base link at a first hinge, the second end of the first link is coupled to the first end of the second link at a second hinge; and the second end of the second link is coupled to the second end of the base link at a third hinge.