Frictionless Pivot Spinal Implant for Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal fusion techniques lead to increased degeneration in adjacent spinal segments, and traditional prosthetic implants in the spine suffer from excessive wear and toxic degradation products, resulting in reduced functional life and increased risk of further surgery.
Innovation Solution
The development of a dynamic orthopedic implant using a frictionless pivot member to interconnect vertebral bodies, minimizing frictional wear and utilizing malleable slats or pyramidal articulations to control and dampen vertebral movement, thereby reducing wear debris and promoting long-term stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spinal fusion and complete immobilization are used to treat spinal disease, then neural elements are decompressed and spinal stability is improved, but adjacent spinal segments experience increased load and accelerated degeneration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing complete immobilization with controlled motion. The mobile prosthesis allows adjacent spinal segments to move dynamically within prescribed limits while maintaining stability, thereby distributing mechanical loads more evenly across the spine and preventing concentration of stress at the fusion site boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of motion control by introducing a mobile prosthesis with adjustable motion characteristics. The device can be configured to allow or restrict motion in specific planes, transforming the spinal segment from a fixed fusion to a controlled dynamic system that maintains stability while preserving physiological movement patterns.
2Ease of operation
If traditional prosthetic implants are used to replace spinal joints, then spinal mobility is maintained, but excessive wear debris is produced causing implant loosening and failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical bearing surfaces with a frictionless pivot mechanism. Instead of relying on articular surfaces that generate wear debris, the invention uses a pivot member with a frictionless articulation point to enable motion, thereby eliminating the source of particulate wear products that cause implant loosening and failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a frictionless pivot member as an intermediary mechanism between spinal segments. This pivot member acts as a mediator that transmits motion without direct contact between opposing surfaces, thereby eliminating wear debris generation while maintaining the desired spinal mobility.
3Strength
If metallic implant materials are used for spinal prostheses, then strength and durability are improved, but toxic degradation products are generated that can be transported to distant body sites
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces metallic bearing surfaces with a frictionless pivot mechanism that eliminates wear. By substituting the mechanical contact-based motion system with a frictionless articulation system, the invention prevents generation of metallic degradation products while maintaining the strength and durability provided by metallic implant materials.
4Reliability
If extension of spinal fusion is performed to treat adjacent degenerating levels, then pain relief is achieved, but surgical risk increases and functional life of the spine is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies dynamics by providing a mobile prosthesis that maintains spinal mobility while treating degeneration. This approach eliminates the need for extended fusion surgery, as the prosthesis can be implanted at the affected level and allow adjacent segments to function normally, thereby reducing surgical complexity and avoiding the need for multiple procedures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively extends the functional life of spinal prostheses, minimizes toxic degradation products, and reduces the need for additional surgical interventions by maintaining spinal mobility and reducing wear-related complications.
Implementation Method 1
at least one malleable member that connects the rotatable members and reversibly returns the bearing mechanism to a neutral position after the dissipation of a force acting upon it
Implementation Method 2
The development of a dynamic orthopedic implant using a frictionless pivot member to interconnect vertebral bodies, minimizing frictional wear
Data Source
AI summary
In a spinal implant device, a frictionless pivot member is used to interconnect multiple links and produce a scissor jack-like device with minimal frictional wear characteristics. The device is attached to at least two vertebrae, wherein a first device segment is attached to a first vertebra and at least one additional device segment is attached to at least one additional vertebra. The implanted device functions to control and dampen the movement between the attached vertebral bodies.