Expandable Trial Implant for Lumbar Disc Sizing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical practices for managing lower back pain due to lumbar intervertebral disc issues require multiple trial implants of varying sizes, which is inefficient and increases surgical trauma, necessitating the development of an expandable trial implant to match the expandable cages used for disc space distraction.
Innovation Solution
An expandable implant with a central strut and pivotable arms that can be inserted in a compact form and expanded to fit the disc space, featuring locking mechanisms such as ratchets or springs to secure the expanded position, allowing for precise fitting and minimization of surgical trauma.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple trial implants of varying sizes are used to identify the properly sized implant, then sizing accuracy is improved, but surgical trauma increases and surgical efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The trial implant incorporates an expandable mechanism with pivotable arms that can be adjusted from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, allowing the implant to dynamically change its footprint to match the final implant size without requiring multiple separate trial devices
Solution Approach 2:
A single trial implant device performs multiple functions by adjusting its arm configuration - it can be collapsed for insertion through a smaller opening and then expanded to test various footprints and heights, replacing the need for multiple dedicated trial implants of different sizes
2Measurement precision
If multiple trial implants of varying sizes are used to identify the properly sized implant, then sizing accuracy is improved, but the number of devices and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple trial implant functions are merged into a single device by incorporating an expandable mechanism that allows one implant to assume multiple size configurations, thereby reducing the total number of separate trial devices needed in the surgical kit
Solution Approach 2:
The trial implant incorporates an expandable mechanism with pivotable arms that can be adjusted from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, allowing the implant to dynamically change its footprint to match the final implant size without requiring multiple separate trial devices
3Measurement precision
If a larger opening is made to insert properly sized trial implants, then sizing accuracy is improved, but surgical trauma increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trial implant incorporates an expandable mechanism with pivotable arms that can be adjusted from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, allowing the implant to dynamically change its footprint to match the final implant size without requiring multiple separate trial devices
Solution Approach 2:
The trial implant's arms can be collapsed into a compact configuration that nests within a smaller insertion opening, allowing the device to pass through a minimized surgical trajectory and then expand to its full functional size once positioned in the disc space
Data Source
AI summary
An intervertebral implant inserter, comprising:a) a elongated central body having a distal end, a proximal end, an outer surface, and a longitudinal throughbore therethrough,b) upper and lower blades, each blade having a distal end portion and a base portion, the base portion of each blade pivotally coupled to the elongated central body,c) a shaft having a longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft is advanceable within the throughbore and rotatable about the longitudinal axis, the shaft having a distal end forming a pusher having an acicular transverse cross-section,d) upper and lower endplates respectively detachably connected to the distal end portion of a respective blade.