Extendable Plate Bone Fusion Device for Minimally Invasive Spinal Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bone fusion devices for vertebrae fusion require invasive surgical procedures, leading to long recovery periods and challenges in retaining bone graft material in the correct position for optimal bone growth.
Innovation Solution
A bone fusion device with an extendable plate mechanism that allows for minimally invasive insertion and customization based on the surgical procedure, featuring a pivotable plate, positioning component, and locking mechanism to secure the plate in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fusion cages are used for vertebrae fusion, then structural stability is provided, but invasive surgical procedures are required leading to long recovery periods
Solution Approach 1:
The fusion device is divided into distinct components: a cage body for structural support and a separate extendable plate for stabilization. This segmentation allows the cage to be inserted minimally invasively while the plate provides additional stability, resolving the contradiction between reduced invasiveness and structural reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate is designed to be extendable from the cage body, transitioning from a retracted to an extended position. This dynamic feature allows the device to adapt to different surgical needs and provides progressive stabilization, enabling minimally invasive insertion while ensuring structural stability is achieved during healing.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If fusion cages are inserted to maintain vertebral separation, then nerve protection is achieved, but bone graft material retention is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The extendable plate is prepared in a retracted position within the cage body during insertion, allowing minimally invasive placement. After the cage is positioned to protect nerves and maintain separation, the plate is extended to create a secure containment structure that prevents bone graft material displacement, thus achieving both nerve protection and graft retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate is nested within the cage body in its retracted state, allowing the cage to be inserted first to protect nerves. Once positioned, the plate extends outward to form an inner containment structure, creating a nested configuration that secures bone graft material while maintaining the protective function of the outer cage.
3Productivity
If customizing bone fusion device dimensions is implemented, then procedure effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cage body and plate are designed as universal components that can be configured for different vertebral levels and surgical indications. The plate's extendable mechanism and various engagement features allow a single device design to serve multiple functions and applications, achieving procedure effectiveness across different cases without requiring entirely different device variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The device allows for parameter adjustments such as plate extension length and positioning, enabling customization to match specific surgical requirements. These parameter changes are achieved through the plate's extendable mechanism and positioning features, providing procedure effectiveness without requiring complex multi-component systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A bone fusion method, system and device for insertion between bones that are to be fused together in order to replace degenerated discs and/or bones, for example, the vertebrae of a spinal column. The bone fusion device includes a body and an extendable plate. The bone fusion device is able to be inserted between or replace the vertebrae by using a minimally invasive procedure wherein the dimensions and/or other characteristics of the bone fusion device are selectable based on the type of minimally invasive procedure.