Frangible Tab Rod Reducer for Spinal Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal surgery techniques lack a minimally invasive method to securely reduce spinal rods into pedicle screw housings while maintaining proper alignment, which is essential for efficient and less painful procedures.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a pedicle screw housing with removable tabs and extensions made of different materials, where frangible members allow the extensions and tabs to separate from the housing upon a threshold force, enabling the securement and reduction of spinal rods using a modular compressor for manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional spinal rod reduction methods are used, then the procedure can be performed, but the alignment between screws and rods cannot be maintained properly and the procedure is not minimally invasive
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into modular components: a rod reducer assembly with a receiver that can be positioned at each screw location, allowing independent alignment and reduction operations. This segmentation enables minimally invasive access while maintaining precise alignment through individual component positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver acts as an intermediary device between the screw and the rod, providing a controlled interface for rod reduction. The receiver maintains proper alignment during the reduction process and can be removed after the rod is securely positioned, enabling minimally invasive surgery without compromising alignment precision.
2Strength
If extensions and tabs are permanently attached to the pedicle screw housing, then structural strength is maintained, but the device complexity increases and minimally invasive removal becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The extensions and tabs are pre-configured in a broken or separable state, allowing the rod reducer assembly to be easily removed after the rod is reduced and secured. This preliminary configuration maintains structural strength during the procedure while enabling simple removal afterward, reducing device complexity for minimally invasive application.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between extensions/tabs and the pedicle screw housing transitions from a fixed state during rod reduction to a separable state after reduction is complete. This dynamic behavior allows the system to maintain strength when needed while enabling easy removal, reducing overall device complexity for minimally invasive surgery.
3Ease of manufacture
If the rod reducer assembly is made as a single integrated unit, then manufacturing is simpler, but the ability to maintain proper alignment during reduction is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The rod reducer assembly is segmented into a receiver portion and extension portions that can be manufactured separately and then assembled. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining alignment precision through controlled assembly, balancing manufacturing simplicity with alignment requirements.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A rod reducer assembly is provided. The rod reducer includes a pedicle screw housing defining a rod-receiving passage therethrough. A tab is removably coupled to the pedicle screw housing by a frangible member. An extension is secured to the tab. The extension and the tab are separable from the pedicle screw housing upon application of a threshold force to the frangible member.