Expandable Support Device Radial Expansion Spinal Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vertebroplasty and spinal fusion techniques face challenges such as cement leakage during injection, limited chemical composition for fracture zones, and the need for additional hardware and tissue disruption for device insertion, which can lead to complications and reduced healing efficacy.
Innovation Solution
An expandable support device that can be deployed in the spine to provide radial expansion, allowing for intravertebral or intervertebral stabilization without the need for direct injection of cement into the fracture zone, using a mechanism of longitudinal compression to expand and lock into place, and can be filled with biocompatible materials for enhanced bone structure and healing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cement mixture is thinned out to improve injection through small diameter needles, then cement injection is improved, but cement leakage is exacerbated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a balloon as an intermediary device inserted into the vertebral body before cement injection. The balloon acts as a mediator that creates a controlled cavity and prevents cement from leaking into surrounding tissues, allowing the use of thicker, more viscous cement mixtures that are easier to inject through small needles without causing leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by inserting and expanding a balloon into the vertebral body before injecting the cement mixture. This preliminary expansion creates a defined space and acts as a barrier, enabling the subsequent cement injection to be performed more effectively with better control over cement flow and distribution.
2Reliability
If cement mixture is injected directly into compression fracture zone, then fracture healing is promoted, but cement leakage into spinal canal occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon serves as a protective intermediary barrier between the cement injection site and the spinal canal. It prevents the cement mixture from leaking into the spinal canal while still allowing the cement to effectively fill and heal the compression fracture zone, thus maintaining fracture healing reliability without the harmful effect of spinal canal contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of cement leakage into a beneficial controlled expansion process. By using the balloon expansion technique, the cement is forced to flow in a controlled manner into the fracture zone rather than leaking uncontrollably, transforming a harmful leakage problem into a beneficial controlled filling process that promotes healing.
3Strength
If additional hardware is used for spinal fusion device insertion, then device stabilization is improved, but tissue disruption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable support device is designed to be self-expanding through a mechanical action (compression of the delivery catheter). Once compressed, the device automatically expands to its full size within the vertebral body without requiring additional hardware or complex assembly steps, thereby achieving stabilization while minimizing tissue disruption from additional surgical interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is segmented into a compressible delivery catheter and an expandable support structure. This segmentation allows the device to be delivered in a compact form through minimal tissue disruption, then automatically expand to provide full stabilization functionality, eliminating the need for separate hardware installation steps that would cause additional tissue damage.
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 expandable support device reduces the risk of cement leakage, allows for improved distribution of healing agents, and minimizes tissue disruption during deployment, providing effective stabilization and promoting bone growth without the need for additional hardware.
Implementation Method 1
The expandable support device can be configured to expand in a radial direction, for example constrained to expansion in a single dimension. The expansion can occur perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device.
Data Source
AI summary
An expandable support device for tissue repair is disclosed. The device can be used to repair hard or soft tissue, such as bone or vertebral discs. A method of repairing tissue is also disclosed. The device and method can be used to treat compression fractures. The compression fractures can be in the spine. The device can be deployed by compressing the device longitudinally resulting in radial expansion.