Inflatable Bone Tamp with Tapered Profile for Vertebral Height Restoration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Minimally invasive surgical procedures for treating vertebral compression fractures are challenging due to the difficulty in accurately placing and containing bone cement within the vertebral body, leading to complications like pain, nerve damage, and reduced mobility, and conventional inflatable bone tamps have complex manufacturing processes that increase costs.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable bone tamp with an outwardly tapering expansion profile, featuring a reduced-diameter distal region and additional features like surface strips or internal webbing, is used to create a cavity in the vertebra, allowing for effective height restoration and containment of bone filler material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional dual lumen construction is used for inflatable bone tamp, then the device can maintain structural integrity and function, but manufacturing complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the inflation path and structural support functions into a single catheter structure instead of using separate coaxial catheters. The reduced diameter distal region of the single catheter serves both as the structural framework and the inflation pathway, eliminating the need for dual lumen construction while maintaining device functionality and structural integrity.
2Device complexity
If single catheter with reduced diameter distal region is used, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but device functionality must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter features a localized reduced diameter distal region that provides specific structural and functional properties where needed. This localized modification allows the catheter to maintain appropriate dimensions for balloon inflation and structural support at the distal end, while the proximal portion can be optimized for access and delivery, thereby maintaining full device functionality with simplified manufacturing.
3Manufacturing precision
If outwardly tapering expansion profile is implemented, then vertebral height restoration is enhanced, but device structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable balloon is designed with an asymmetric outwardly tapering expansion profile where the distal portion has a larger diameter than the proximal portion. This asymmetric geometry is achieved through strategic placement of reinforcement strips and webbing that guide the expansion pattern, creating the desired tapering profile that directs inflation forces effectively towards the endplates for enhanced height restoration without requiring complex mechanical structures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The outwardly tapering profile enhances the ability to restore vertebral height and maintain bone integrity by directing inflation forces effectively towards the endplates, reducing the risk of cement leakage and simplifying manufacturing while maintaining procedure effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
an inflatable structure having an expansion profile that exhibits greater distal expansion than proximal expansion
Implementation Method 2
a kyphoplasty procedure can be performed in which lifting forces are more effectively applied to the endplates of a collapsed vertebral body
Data Source
AI summary
An inflatable bone tamp for performing a minimally invasive surgical procedure includes a shaft having a primary region and a reduced diameter region, and an inflatable structure surrounding at least a portion of the reduced diameter region. The reduced diameter region of the shaft allows the deflated size of the inflatable structure to be minimized, while at the same time eliminating the need for the conventional dual lumen balloon catheter construction.