Guided Rod and Anchor System for Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
In minimally invasive surgery (MIS) spinal procedures, existing bone anchor/rod systems face challenges in efficiently guiding and securing the rod between adjacent bone anchors under the skin and musculature, particularly in minimizing tissue damage and incision size while ensuring precise alignment and locking.
Innovation Solution
A guided rod and anchor system utilizing an extended tab tulip with rails and a pivotally coupled slide member, allowing the rod assembly to be translated and pivoted into engagement with adjacent bone anchors, facilitated by elongate tab extenders and internal threading for secure fixation using set screws.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional rod placement methods are used in MIS spinal procedures, then the procedure can be performed through a portal, but the rod placement/securement task becomes difficult and time-consuming under the skin and musculature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device consisting of a guide member with a guide opening that extends from the skin surface to the bone anchor. This guide member acts as a mediator to facilitate rod placement by providing a defined pathway through the tissue, making the rod insertion task easier and faster while maintaining minimally invasive benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member is inserted and positioned beforehand to create a pre-established pathway from the skin surface to the bone anchor. This preliminary action of creating the guide opening before rod placement simplifies the subsequent rod insertion process and reduces the time required for securement
2Object-affected harmful factors
If minimally invasive surgery is used, then incision size is minimized and tissue damage is reduced, but rod placement and securement under skin and musculature becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member serves as a mediator that bridges the gap between the small incision site and the deep bone anchor location. It provides a controlled pathway through the minimally invasive incision, enabling easy rod placement while maintaining small incision size and minimizing tissue damage
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member extends in the depth dimension from the skin surface to the bone anchor, creating a three-dimensional pathway that allows rod placement without requiring large incisions. This dimensional approach enables the rod to be guided through tissue layers along a predefined trajectory
3Manufacturing precision
If traditional rod securement methods are used, then the rod can be locked into position, but precise alignment and efficient guidance to the bone anchor becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The guide opening in the guide member acts as a precise alignment intermediary, directing the rod along a predetermined path to ensure accurate positioning at the bone anchor. This guide structure provides both alignment precision and placement efficiency by combining guidance and securement functions
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member performs multiple functions: it guides the rod to the correct position, provides alignment precision, and facilitates efficient placement. This multi-functional design integrates alignment and placement tasks into a single operational step, improving both precision and productivity
Data Source
AI summary
A bone anchor system utilizing an extended tab tulip having rails which extend from a point above the skin of a patient to a point proximal a bone anchor, and a slide member pivotally coupled to a rod, the slide member having engagement features which align to the rails of the extended tabs such that the coupled rod assembly is easily and efficiently guided to a position more proximate to the bone anchor and the rod is simultaneously pivoted into engagement with an adjacent bone anchor under the skin and musculature of the patient, for example.