Navigated Guide Tube Fixation for Spinal Drug Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vertebral column surgical procedures face challenges such as invasive operations leading to infection, trauma, radiation exposure, and lengthy recovery times due to limited operating room space and risks of micro-movement of vertebrae, which can injure delicate nerve tissue or the spinal cord, and require precise drug delivery for spinal cord injuries.
Innovation Solution
A guide tube fixation device with a clamping element, ball joint, and navigation elements is used to attach and calibrate a guide tube to a vertebra, allowing precise placement of a spinal needle or cannula for drug delivery, utilizing CT and MR data for navigation and fixation, enabling accurate and stable delivery of substances like Cordaneurin to spinal cord lesions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional open surgical procedures are used for vertebral column surgery, then the surgeon can directly access and treat the surgical site, but the patient is exposed to high risk of infection, excessive trauma, blood loss, post operative pain, and lengthy recovery time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guide tube as an intermediary device that enables percutaneous access to the vertebral column. The guide tube serves as a mediator between the external injection device and the internal spinal cord lesion site, allowing drug delivery without traditional open surgery. This intermediary approach minimizes direct surgical intervention while maintaining precise drug delivery capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical open surgical system with a navigated percutaneous system. Instead of using large surgical instruments and open incisions, the system uses a thin guide tube guided by navigation technology (X-ray, CT, or MRI) to reach the target site. This substitution eliminates the need for extensive mechanical dissection while achieving the same therapeutic goal.
2Measurement precision
If repeated X-raying and fluoroscopy are used to view surgical site during procedures, then the surgeon can accurately position surgical tools and implants, but the patient and operating room staff are exposed to large doses of radiation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pre-operative imaging (CT or MRI) to create a three-dimensional model of the patient's anatomy before the procedure. This preliminary action allows the surgical plan to be developed in advance, reducing the need for repeated intraoperative X-rays and fluoroscopy. The navigation system uses this pre-acquired data to guide the guide tube placement, minimizing radiation exposure during the actual procedure.
3Ease of operation
If traditional needle placement methods are used for drug delivery to spinal cord lesions, then the procedure is simpler, but the placement is less stable and accurate, increasing the risk of injuring delicate nerve tissue or spinal cord
Solution Approach 1:
The guide tube acts as an intermediary stabilization device that enables precise needle placement. Instead of directly inserting the needle without guidance, the guide tube provides a stable, pre-positioned pathway that ensures accurate drug delivery to the spinal cord lesion while minimizing the risk of injuring surrounding nerve tissue. The guide tube mediates between the simple injection approach and the need for precision.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for positioning a guide tube fixation device at a spinal structure of a patient are provided. The method includes attaching an attachment element to the spinal structure, attaching a guide tube to the attachment element, wherein said guide tube is calibrated prior to attachment, and navigating a part of the guide tube to a predetermined location relative to a target region of the patient. The apparatus includes an attachment device for attaching to the spinal structure, a joint attached to the attachment device, and a guide tube holding device attached to the joint and operable to hold and/or guide a guide tube, said guide tube configured to guide a cannula, needle and/or fluid to a desired site or location.