Expandable Vertebral Bone Support Blocks Without Bone Cement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing implantable devices for vertebral fractures require the use of bone cement, which is difficult to control and can lead to material leakage, and they are not capable of withstanding compressive loads effectively.
Innovation Solution
An expandable implantable device with pre-shaped bulk blocks that expand intra-osseously to stabilize and support the vertebra, eliminating the need for bone cement and providing mechanical stability by osseo-integration and bone regrowth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bone cement is used to stabilize the vertebra, then the bone can be supported, but the cement distribution is difficult to control and material leakage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the bone cement component from the stabilization system. Instead of using cement that requires injection and hardening, the patent employs a mechanical expandable device that provides immediate structural support through physical expansion against the vertebral walls, thereby removing the harmful leakage issue entirely
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizing function is segmented into distinct mechanical components: an expandable device with multiple expansion elements that can be independently positioned and expanded. This segmentation allows for controlled, localized support without the need for bulk cement injection, preventing material leakage while maintaining vertebral stability
2Reliability
If a stent is used to prevent vertebral collapse, then the structure is provided, but the stent itself cannot withstand compressive loads
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs composite construction combining multiple materials with complementary properties: a biocompatible expandable framework that provides structural integrity and load-bearing capacity, complemented by bone integration surfaces that facilitate biological bonding. This composite approach enables the device to withstand compressive loads while preventing collapse
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from a compressed delivery state to an expanded functional state within the vertebral body. This dynamic expansion allows the device to adapt to the specific geometry of the vertebral cavity and distribute compressive loads effectively across multiple contact points, enhancing load-bearing capacity while preventing collapse
3Ease of operation
If an expandable device is inserted percutaneously, then the procedure is minimally invasive, but precise positioning and control during expansion is challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates radiopaque markers and imaging-compatible features that provide real-time feedback during the implantation procedure. This allows the operator to visualize device position and expansion status through standard imaging modalities, enabling precise positioning and controlled expansion despite the percutaneous approach
Solution Approach 2:
The expandable device is nested within a delivery catheter in a compressed state, allowing percutaneous insertion through minimal incisions. Once positioned, the device is deployed and expanded within the vertebral body. This nested configuration enables minimally invasive delivery while maintaining the capability for precise positioning and controlled expansion at the target site
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable, expandable bone support device for a bone, such as a vertebra. The device has a pre-shaped bulk block for filling up an intra-osseous implant cavity of the bone. The pre-shaped bulk block is movable to project in an expanded state of the device out relative to a non-expanded shape of the device. The block comprises a load supporting surface for supporting a load acting on the bone, and a fixation interface for interfacing with a pre-shaped fixation which when interfacing holds the pre-shaped block in the expanded state of the bone support device in position, against the load, and inhibits the device from collapsing from the expanded state into the non-expanded state. An actuator interface allows engaging with an actuator for actuating the movement of the bulk blocks along the pre-defined path. The device comprises a guide defining the pre-defined path along which the bulk block is movable.