Surgical Implant Inserter Compressor with Pivotable Jaws
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical implant inserters often apply uneven forces when mounting plates on spinous processes of varying sizes and shapes, leading to potential overstressing and incomplete engagement, known as 'stress shielding'.
Innovation Solution
A surgical implant inserter compressor with pivotable jaws that move along a common axis, allowing for parallel movement and accommodation of anatomical differences, ensuring even force distribution across spinous processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional plier-like tool with arcuate jaw movement is used, then the tool can insert implants, but the force distribution becomes uneven causing stress shielding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static arcuate movement path into a dynamic linear movement path that can adapt to anatomical variations. The jaws move along a common axis in a linear fashion rather than following a fixed arc, allowing real-time adjustment to accommodate different spinous process geometries and achieve uniform force distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces asymmetric features including a offset common axis that does not pass through the center of the implant, and jaws with different movement capabilities (one jaw can move relative to the other). This asymmetry allows the tool to compensate for anatomical variations and achieve symmetric force distribution on the spinous processes.
2Device complexity
If jaws move along arcuate path, then tool operation is simple, but engagement of spinous processes occurs at different times with different forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the fixed arcuate movement with a dynamic linear movement along a common axis. This dynamic approach allows the jaws to engage the spinous processes simultaneously by moving along a straight line that can be adjusted to match the anatomical configuration, improving engagement reliability while maintaining operational simplicity.
3Manufacturing precision
If plates are forced together until contact with lower spinous process, then lower process engages, but upper process experiences excessive force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a counterbalancing mechanism where the offset common axis and the ability of one jaw to move relative to the other create a counteracting effect. This allows the tool to apply force evenly to both spinous processes, preventing excessive force on the upper process while ensuring proper engagement of the lower process.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic linear movement along an offset common axis allows the tool to automatically adjust force distribution. As the jaws move linearly toward each other, the offset axis and relative jaw movement ensure that force is distributed evenly, preventing overstressing of either spinous process while achieving accurate engagement.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical implant inserter compressor is shown having a plurality of jaws and is adapted to permit at least one or both jaws to move generally parallel with respect to each other or move along an axis wherein the jaws remain in a plane that is generally perpendicular to that axis. The surgical implant inserter compressor is adapted for implanting at least one or a plurality of plates onto a pair of spinous processes and is adapted to distribute the clamping force with which the implants engage the spinous processes. The surgical implant inserter compressor may be adapted to permit one or both jaws to float or pivot to accommodate different anatomical structures, such as spinous processes that are not aligned, are of different sizes or shape and the like. An optional tool guide for guiding a tool to drive a lock to lock the plates together is also shown.