Interbody Spacer Bone Plate Assembly With Anti-Dislodgment Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal fixation implants lack robustness and efficiency, leading to increased risks and costs in spinal fusion procedures, and there is a need for improved stabilization methods to enhance fusion outcomes and reduce complications.
Innovation Solution
A bone plate assembly comprising an interbody spacer and fasteners with bone-engagement fins and ramps that redirect fasteners for secure anchoring in vertebrae, along with locking clips to prevent dislodgment, providing enhanced stability and fusion support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional spinal fixation implants are used, then the procedure can be performed with simpler devices, but the implants lack robustness and efficiency leading to increased risks and costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional components into a single integrated assembly: the interbody spacer, bone plate, and fasteners are designed to work together as one unit. The fasteners simultaneously anchor into both the interbody spacer and the vertebral bone, creating a unified fixation system that enhances reliability while managing complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The bone plate is positioned within the interbody spacer, creating a nested configuration where the plate resides inside the spacer's internal cavity. This nesting arrangement allows the smaller bone plate to be contained within the larger interbody spacer structure, providing layered stabilization while optimizing space utilization in the spinal fixation context.
2Reliability
If robust spinal fixation implants are used, then fusion outcomes are improved and risks are reduced, but procedural costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fasteners serve multiple functions simultaneously: they anchor the bone plate to the vertebral bone, secure the interbody spacer in place, and provide structural support for the entire assembly. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, potentially lowering material costs while maintaining robust fixation and improving fusion outcomes.
Solution Approach 2:
By combining the bone plate and interbody spacer into a single integrated assembly with shared fasteners, the patent reduces the total quantity of separate implant materials required. The fasteners serve both anchoring functions, eliminating the need for additional fixation elements and reducing overall procedural costs while maintaining reliability.
3Strength
If fasteners are designed to anchor securely in bone, then stability is improved, but the risk of implant dislodgment increases without proper retention mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The bone-engagement fins are pre-configured on the fasteners to actively resist dislodgment forces before they occur. These fins are designed to engage the bone structure and create mechanical interlocking that prevents backward motion or dislodgment of the fasteners, addressing the potential harmful effect of implant displacement before it can happen during or after the surgical procedure.
4Strength
If the fasteners have bone-engagement fins, then anchoring in bone is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bone-engagement fins are applied locally to specific portions of the fastener shank rather than requiring complex modifications to the entire fastener structure. This localized addition of engagement features allows the fasteners to maintain their basic simple cylindrical form while incorporating localized fin structures that enhance bone anchoring capability without significantly increasing overall manufacturing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Implant assemblies, systems, and methods for stabilizing a joint between a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra may include a plate member coupled to an interbody spacer with at least one fastener that extends superiorly or inferiorly from the implant assembly to anchor within a vertebral body and stabilize the joint. Inserters and methods of insertion may also be included to facilitate fixation of various implant assemblies within the intervertebral space of the joint between the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra.