Extendable Spinal Cage for Minimally Invasive Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spinal cages have large dimensions, necessitating large surgical sites and complicating minimally invasive procedures for spinal fusion surgeries, which can be costly and invasive for patients.
Innovation Solution
An extendable spinal cage comprising a first and second segment, where the first segment is slidable with respect to the second, allowing the cage to be elongated from a retracted state to an extended state, facilitating minimally invasive surgery by adjusting to a smaller size during implantation and providing robust support between vertebrae.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional spinal cages are used with considerable dimensions, then structural support between vertebrae is achieved, but large surgical sites are required and minimally invasive procedures are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The spinal cage is divided into multiple segments (first segment and second segment) that can move relative to each other. This segmentation allows the cage to be compressed to a smaller size for implantation through minimally invasive approaches, then expanded in situ to provide the necessary structural support between vertebrae.
Solution Approach 2:
The spinal cage transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one with movable segments connected by joints. The cage can change its configuration from a compressed state during implantation to an expanded state for providing structural support, adapting its dimensions to different surgical requirements.
2Strength
If conventional spinal cages with fixed dimensions are implanted, then immediate structural support is provided, but adaptability to different intervertebral spaces is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The spinal cage incorporates movable segments that can be adjusted to different positions and orientations. This dynamic structure allows the cage to adapt to various intervertebral space dimensions and anatomical configurations while maintaining structural support functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The cage's dimensional parameters can be changed in situ after implantation. The movable segments allow adjustment of the cage's length, width, or orientation to match the specific requirements of different intervertebral spaces, providing both adaptability and structural support.
Data Source
AI summary
A spinal cage is provided to be implanted in an intervertebral disc space. The spinal cage includes a first segment and a second segment movably connected with each other. The first segment is slidable with respect to the second segment, so as to elongate the spinal cage from a retracted state to an extended state.