Expandable Interbody Implant With Orientation Lock for Surgical Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intervertebral fusion devices face challenges in achieving precise placement and restoring disc height due to issues with surgical access and alignment, often requiring extensive implants with fixed approach-specific features.
Innovation Solution
An expandable fusion device that can be inserted from various approaches, featuring an adjustable orientation, internal automatic lock, and the ability to expand in height to achieve desired disc height, with components like an upper and lower endplate, actuation gear, interface collar, and expansion lock.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If fixed approach-specific insertion features are used, then precise placement can be achieved for specific surgical approaches, but the device complexity increases and requires extensive implants
Solution Approach 1:
The interface collar is designed with a universal interface that can accommodate multiple surgical approaches (direct anterior, direct lateral, oblique) through a single implant design. The collar includes multiple engagement positions that can be locked into place, allowing one implant to serve multiple surgical approaches rather than requiring separate approach-specific implants.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface collar is made rotatable relative to the implant body, allowing dynamic adjustment of the collar's orientation during surgery. This rotatability enables the surgeon to orient the collar to match the specific surgical approach being used, providing precise placement flexibility without increasing device complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple implants with fixed approach-specific features are used, then precise placement for various approaches is achieved, but the quantity of implants increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interface collar is designed with a universal interface that can accommodate multiple surgical approaches (direct anterior, direct lateral, oblique) through a single implant design. The collar includes multiple engagement positions that can be locked into place, allowing one implant to serve multiple surgical approaches rather than requiring separate approach-specific implants.
3Length of moving object
If expandable design is used, then disc height restoration is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The implant includes an expandable body that can be inserted in a compressed state and then expanded to the desired disc height. The expansion mechanism allows the implant to transition from a compact insertion configuration to a fully expanded functional configuration, providing disc height restoration while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant body is divided into expandable segments that can be compressed together for insertion and then expanded apart to achieve the desired disc height. This segmentation allows the implant to function as both a compact insertion device and an expanded height-restoration device, managing complexity through functional segmentation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable orientation is implemented, then adaptability to various surgical approaches is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interface collar is made rotatable relative to the implant body, allowing dynamic adjustment of the collar's orientation during surgery. This rotatability enables the surgeon to orient the collar to match the specific surgical approach being used, providing precise placement flexibility without increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface collar is designed with a universal interface that can accommodate multiple surgical approaches (direct anterior, direct lateral, oblique) through a single implant design. The collar includes multiple engagement positions that can be locked into place, allowing one implant to serve multiple surgical approaches rather than requiring separate approach-specific implants.
Data Source
AI summary
Expandable fusion devices, systems, instruments, and methods thereof. The expandable fusion implant may include an upper endplate and a lower endplate configured to engage adjacent vertebrae, an actuation gear configured to adjust a height of the upper endplate, an interface collar configured to attach to an inserter instrument at multiple orientations for a desired surgical approach, and an expansion and orientation lock configured to lock the orientation of the interface collar and lock the height of the upper endplate. The expandable fusion device is attachable to the inserter instrument to secure the interface collar and disengage the lock from the actuation gear to permit expansion of the upper endplate.