Spinal Interbody Device Surface Features for Bone Growth

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing interbody devices for spinal fusion lack sufficient surface area for bone growth and integration, which can lead to inadequate biomechanical support and chronic back pain.

Innovation Solution

The development of an interbody device with integrated surface features and graft materials that increase the bone contacting surface area, promoting bone growth and integration. The device includes raised features, such as holes or channel-like structures, to hold graft material or integrate it using additive processes, enhancing bone contact and growth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If traditional smooth-surfaced interbody devices are used, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the bone growth surface area is insufficient leading to poor bone integration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebone contacting surface areaVSAvoiddevice structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bone contacting surface is segmented into multiple raised features including ridges, bumps, and peaks that extend from the endplates. These segmented structures increase the total surface area for bone growth while maintaining a relatively simple overall device geometry that can be manufactured using conventional techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device transitions from a flat two-dimensional bone contacting surface to a three-dimensional surface with raised features that extend vertically from the endplates. This dimensional change creates additional surface area for bone growth without significantly increasing the footprint of the device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If more graft material is integrated into the device, then bone growth promotion is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebone integration reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing process simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Graft material is pre-formed into disc-shaped or cylindrical configurations that match the device geometry before insertion. This preliminary preparation allows the graft material to be easily positioned and secured within the device during surgery, reducing intraoperative complexity while ensuring reliable bone integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The graft material is nested within the interbody device structure, with the graft features positioned inside the device body. This nesting arrangement allows the graft material to be contained and secured within the device while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing process for the device itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS20250107903A1Integral graft interbody devices

Publication Date: 2025.04.03 WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC INC

AI summary

An interbody spinal implant including a body portion having a superior side, an inferior side and a lateral side connecting the superior side and the inferior side, at least one of the superior side or the inferior side comprises a bone contacting surface operable to be coupled to an anatomical structure of a patient; and a plurality of uniform features formed in the bone contacting surface, wherein each uniform feature of the plurality of uniform features comprise a planar peak or a round peak and are dimensioned to increase a surface area of the bone contacting surface to promote bone growth.