Expandable Spring-Tab Surgical Instrument for Spinal Implant Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical treatments for spinal disorders, such as degenerative disc disease and osteoporosis, often require inefficient and cumbersome methods for attaching spinal implants to vertebral members, leading to suboptimal stability and alignment during healing.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with an outer sleeve and inner shaft, featuring expandable spring tabs and a translational actuator, allows for secure attachment of spinal implants to bone fixation devices, enabling efficient connection and alignment of vertebral members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional surgical methods are used to attach spinal implants to vertebral members, then the surgical procedure can be completed, but the attachment process is inefficient and cumbersome, leading to suboptimal stability and alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical instrument features an inner shaft nested within an outer sleeve, with spring tabs that can expand and contract. The spinal implant receiver is captured within the instrument's distal end, allowing for compact storage and delivery while enabling expansion for secure attachment and alignment during the surgical procedure
2Productivity
If traditional attachment methods are used for spinal implants, then the procedure can be completed, but the process is cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The spring tabs are designed to be dynamically expandable and contractable. When the inner shaft is translated relative to the outer sleeve, the spring tabs expand to engage the inner surface of the spinal implant receiver, providing secure attachment. When the inner shaft retracts, the spring tabs contract to release the implant, enabling quick removal if needed
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical instrument is divided into distinct functional segments: an outer sleeve providing structural support, an inner shaft for actuation, spring tabs for engagement, and a distal end for capturing the implant receiver. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall instrument manageability
3Stability of the object's composition
If spinal implants are attached using conventional methods, then fixation can be achieved, but alignment and stability during healing are suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument replaces traditional mechanical drilling and screwing methods with a streamlined expansion mechanism. The spring tabs expand to firmly engage the implant receiver's inner surface, creating immediate stable fixation without the need for complex mechanical fastening operations, thereby improving alignment stability and potentially reducing healing time
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 instrument facilitates rapid and stable fixation of spinal implants, enhancing the surgical treatment of spinal disorders by providing improved alignment and stability during the healing process.
Implementation Method 1
at least one spring tab biased radially inward and expandable for engagement to an inner surface of a spinal implant
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument includes a first member being engageable to an inner surface of a spinal implant. An actuator is connected to a second member such that the second member is translatable relative to the first member for connecting the spinal implant to a bone fixation device. Systems, spinal constructs, implants and methods are disclosed.