Expandable Spinal Stabilizer with Ratchet Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical interventions like discectomy often destabilize the intervertebral space, leading to potential collapse of vertebrae, as they remove damaged disc material without providing adequate stabilization.
Innovation Solution
A joint distraction and stabilization device with bone contacting sections and an expandable element that absorbs a filling medium to increase dimension, featuring pawls and ratchets for secure expansion and adjustable height, along with biodegradable materials and bone growth promotion to stabilize the spinal joint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If discectomy is performed to remove damaged disc material, then the problems associated with the damaged disc are eliminated, but the intervertebral space becomes destabilized and may collapse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an expandable spacer as an intermediary device that occupies the intervertebral space after disc removal. The spacer acts as a temporary mediator that maintains space stability and prevents vertebral collapse while allowing bone graft material to promote fusion between adjacent vertebrae.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer utilizes parameter changes through expansion after implantation. The device is inserted in a compressed state and then expanded within the intervertebral space, changing its volume parameter to provide adequate support and stability while maintaining the necessary space for bone fusion.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a device is placed within the intervertebral space to increase stability, then the possibilities of disc collapse or displacement of intervertebral tissue are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilization device is segmented into multiple functional components: an expandable body for space maintenance, ratchet mechanisms for height adjustment and locking, and bone graft receptacles for fusion promotion. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while keeping the overall device manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates dynamic elements including the expandable body that can be inflated or expanded after implantation, and the ratchet mechanism that allows for adjustable height settings. These dynamic features enable the device to adapt to different anatomical requirements while providing stable support.
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 device effectively stabilizes the intervertebral space, prevents collapse, and promotes bone growth, maintaining spinal stability and facilitating natural fusion while being biocompatible and minimally invasive.
Implementation Method 1
an expandable element having an inlet port through which a filling medium may be passed into the expandable element under a filling pressure sufficient to expand and increase a dimension of the expandable element
Data Source
AI summary
A spinal distractor and stabilizer has resilient, conformable bone contacting sections which are separated by an expandable chamber that extends from one of the sections, and which forms a ratchet with the section, ensuring that once expanded by being filled with a substance, cannot contract absent intervention by a medical practitioner. The stabilizer may be filled with a material which solidifies, after which some or all of the device may biodegrade. The device may also be provided in separable portions to facilitate implantation. The conformable sections distribute the distraction and stabilizing force evenly over the bone surface, reducing the incidence of disruption to the integrity of the bone.