Gullwing Spinal Implant for Vertebral Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal implant technologies for treating musculoskeletal disorders, such as degenerative disc disease and osteoporosis, often fail to provide adequate stabilization and decompression, leading to persistent pain and mobility issues.
Innovation Solution
A spinal implant system comprising a laminoplasty plate with a gullwing configuration, featuring transverse extensions with roughened surfaces for fixation to vertebral tissue, and mating elements for engagement with surgical instruments, designed to stabilize vertebral levels and facilitate bone growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional spinal implants are used for stabilization, then vertebral levels can be stabilized, but adequate decompression and pain relief are not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The spinal implant is divided into multiple functional segments: a body portion for decompression, and one or more extensions for stabilization. This segmentation allows the implant to simultaneously perform decompression of the spinal canal and stabilization of vertebral levels, addressing both problems that traditional single-function implants could not resolve.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant serves multiple functions within a single device: it decompresses the spinal canal by removing bone tissue, stabilizes vertebral levels through extensions with bone anchors, and provides structural support. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate decompression and fixation procedures, directly addressing the inadequacy of traditional implants that only stabilized without providing adequate decompression.
2Manufacturing precision
If surgical instruments are needed for implant placement, then precise positioning can be achieved, but surgical complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A guide instrument serves as an intermediary tool during surgery, featuring a guide bore that precisely positions the implant while simplifying the placement process. The guide instrument temporarily mediates between the surgeon's actions and the implant placement, ensuring accurate positioning through the guide bore without requiring complex positioning systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant design replaces complex mechanical positioning systems with a simpler guide instrument approach. Instead of using elaborate mechanical alignment systems, the patent employs a guide instrument with a guide bore that mechanically guides the implant into the correct position, reducing surgical complexity while maintaining precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A spinal implant includes an intermediate portion and a first portion extending in a transverse orientation from the intermediate portion. The first portion includes an inner surface connectable with vertebral tissue adjacent a lamina. A second portion is spaced from the first portion and extends in a transverse orientation from the intermediate portion. The second portion includes an inner surface connectable with vertebral tissue adjacent a lamina. At least one of the first portion and the second portion includes an outer surface having a mating element engageable with a mating element of a surgical instrument. Systems, surgical instruments and methods are disclosed.