Hinged Plate Bone Anchorage Screw for Minimally Invasive Spinal Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spinal stabilization/fixation devices are highly invasive, causing muscle disruption, blood loss, and are time-consuming and difficult to remove, due to their posterior approach which detaches paraspinal muscles from the spine.
Innovation Solution
A medical device featuring a screw assembly with a base and support that can be positioned parallel or perpendicular to the base, allowing for subcutaneous support of the spine with minimal invasiveness, using a screw assembly that includes a base with a locking mechanism and anchor for secure attachment to bone, enabling efficient deployment and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional posterior approach is used to implant spinal fixation devices, then spinal stabilization is achieved, but muscle disruption and blood loss increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate modular components: a support member with apertures and a screw assembly with anchor. This segmentation allows the screw to be inserted through the support member without requiring detachment of paraspinal muscles, thereby achieving spinal stabilization while minimizing muscle disruption and blood loss associated with conventional posterior approaches.
2Ease of operation
If paraspinal muscles are detached from posterior spinal elements, then device implantation is facilitated, but muscle function and attachment sites are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of detaching muscles from the spine to implant the device (conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by inserting the screw assembly through the support member which is positioned on the posterior elements, thereby facilitating device implantation without compromising muscle attachment sites and maintaining muscle function.
3Reliability
If conventional posterior spinal fixation devices are used, then spinal alignment is achieved, but the procedure is time-consuming and removal is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is designed with a hinged connection to the screw assembly, allowing the support to rotate from a parallel position to a perpendicular position relative to the screw's long axis. This dynamic configuration enables easier implantation and removal procedures while maintaining secure spinal alignment during the healing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design with separable support member and screw assembly allows for simplified removal compared to conventional integrated devices. The support member can be detached from the screw assembly, reducing the complexity and time required for device removal after spinal fusion has occurred.
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable medical device and methods of use thereof are provided for supporting a structure. The structure supported can include a bony structure. The device is comprised of a screw assembly including a base and a support configured for receiving one or more anchor assemblies. The support includes a top portion, a bottom portion and an interconnection means for coupling the base to the support. The interconnection means allows the support to be positionable in a first position that is substantially parallel to a long axis of the base and secondarily positionable substantially perpendicular to the long axis of the base. The base and the one or more anchor assemblies are configured for attachment to a structure in a patient.