Expandable Spinal Implant Wedge Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional spinal implantation procedures often fail to preserve critical bone structures like vertebral endplates, leading to tissue trauma, increased pain, and prolonged recovery due to large incisions and extensive tissue dissection, while smaller implants may not adequately bear the necessary load.
Innovation Solution
The development of expandable interbody spinal implants with a moveable joint and a socket for an expansion wedge, allowing for increased height and load-bearing capacity while minimizing bone removal and tissue trauma, featuring a roughened surface topography for bone integration and an anchor pin system for stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional implantation procedures use large incisions and extensive tissue dissection to insert implants, then the implant can be adequately installed, but tissue trauma increases, pain increases, and recovery time prolongs
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into multiple segments including a proximal segment, distal segment, and expandable middle segment. This segmentation allows the implant to be inserted through a smaller incision and then expanded in situ to achieve the required load-bearing capacity, thereby reducing tissue trauma while maintaining installation feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The implant incorporates an expandable middle segment that can dynamically change its configuration from a compressed state for insertion to an expanded state for load bearing. This dynamic transformation allows the implant to adapt to the surgical environment, reducing the need for large incisions while ensuring adequate structural support
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the implant size is reduced to minimize incision and tissue dissection, then tissue trauma is reduced, but the implant may not adequately bear the necessary load
Solution Approach 1:
The implant employs an expandable middle segment that transitions from a compact configuration during insertion to an expanded configuration for load bearing. This dynamic expansion allows the implant to achieve adequate strength and load-bearing capacity only when needed, while maintaining a small profile during insertion to minimize tissue trauma
Solution Approach 2:
The implant utilizes changes in geometric parameters through expansion of the middle segment to transform from a small insertion profile to a large load-bearing profile. This parameter transformation enables the implant to satisfy both the minimization of tissue trauma during insertion and the requirement for adequate load-bearing capacity after implantation
3Device complexity
If traditional implants are used without expansion capability, then the design is simpler, but the implant cannot adequately stand in the place of tissue and bear load
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is segmented into proximal, middle (expandable), and distal segments connected by movable joints. This segmentation provides the structural framework for expansion capability while maintaining relative simplicity in each individual segment, allowing the implant to achieve adequate load-bearing capacity without excessive overall complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The implant incorporates movable joints and an expandable middle segment that provide dynamic adjustment capability. This dynamic feature allows the implant to transition from a simple compact structure during insertion to a robust expanded structure for load bearing, achieving adequate strength without requiring a completely complex design from the outset
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 effectively preserves vertebral endplate bone, reduces tissue trauma, and enhances load-bearing capacity, facilitating faster recovery and improved biomechanical integrity by allowing for adjustable implant height and secure bone integration.
Implementation Method 1
a top surface comprising a roughened surface topography adapted to grip bone and inhibit migration of the implant
Implementation Method 2
an expandable interbody spinal implant with an expansion wedge, allowing for increased height and load-bearing capacity
Implementation Method 3
A moveable joint preferably connects the top portion and bottom portion together, and allows the top and bottom portions to move vertically relative to each other
Data Source
AI summary
An interbody spinal implant system includes an implant having separate, but joined top and bottom portions, a socket for receiving an expansion wedge, an expansion wedge, and an anchor pin. The anchor pin includes at least two prongs having a plurality of ridges or teeth. The top portion and the bottom portion each include a slot for receiving a prong of the anchor pin. A movable joint joins the top and bottom portions and allows the top and bottom portions to move vertically relative to each other.