Helical Lock Spacer for Axial Bone Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bone spacer technologies face challenges in achieving robust fixation with minimal invasive approaches, requiring multiple instruments and off-angle insertion, and lack efficient mechanisms for precise placement and adjustment without disrupting bone endplates or requiring pre-drilling.
Innovation Solution
The development of novel bone spacers with helical locks and specialized surgical instruments that allow for minimally invasive insertion along a single surgical axis, using biocompatible materials and surface coatings for osteo-integration, with helical guides and locks that secure the spacer without liftoff or gapping during skeletal movement, and can be easily adjusted or removed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional bone spacer fixation methods are used, then secure fixation is achieved, but multiple instruments and off-angle insertion are required, increasing surgical complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the spacer body and fixation mechanism (helical locks) into a single integrated device. The helical locks are pre-formed as part of the spacer structure, eliminating the need for separate fixation instruments and reducing the number of surgical steps while maintaining secure fixation reliability
2Reliability
If traditional bone spacer fixation methods are used, then secure fixation is achieved, but off-angle insertion is required, disrupting bone endplates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of inserting the spacer at an off-angle and then attempting fixation, the invention inverts the approach by designing helical locks that enable direct axial insertion through the bone endplate. The helical geometry allows the fixation elements to self-drill and self-tap along the insertion axis, converting the harmful off-angle insertion into a beneficial axial insertion path that minimizes endplate disruption
3Reliability
If robust fixation is achieved, then spacer stability is improved, but pre-drilling and complex insertion procedures are required
Solution Approach 1:
The helical locks are pre-formed with a compressed configuration during manufacturing, storing elastic energy and preparing the structure for insertion. This preliminary action eliminates the need for pre-drilling holes in the bone, as the pre-compressed helical locks expand upon insertion to create their own fixation paths, simplifying the surgical procedure while maintaining robust spacer stability
4Reliability
If fixation components are tightened, then secure attachment is achieved, but off-angle tightening and multiple instruments are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The helical locks are designed to self-tighten through a simple rotational motion applied by a single instrument. The helical geometry converts rotational motion into axial compression, automatically tightening the fixation against the bone endplate without requiring off-angle approaches or multiple instruments. The structure serves itself by using the insertion motion to create and secure the fixation
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are bone spacing implants for bone fusion with an open helix locking system and insertion instrumentation for implanting a spacer and fixating with a helix lock without removal of instrumentation between steps. Implanting methods comprise the steps of: positioning a coil driver over an elongate shaft portion of a bone spacer inserter; loading a helical lock implant on a distal end of an elongate shaft portion wherein an elongate shaft portion occupies a central core space of the helical lock; positioning and fixing a selected bone spacer implant to the bone spacer inserter instrument; advancing the bone spacer and helical lock instrumentation assembly into an intervertebral space; advancing through rotation a coil driver transmitting torsional forces against a butt surface of a helix lock until the helix lock is fully threaded into adjacent bone and the bone spacer.