Interspinal Spacer With Bypass Passage For Symmetric Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spacer devices for expanding the spacing between bones, such as in the interspinal area, often experience displacement due to asymmetric expansion or contact with surrounding tissues, leading to potential detachment from the intended position.
Innovation Solution
A spacer design with a bypass passage that allows simultaneous and symmetric expansion of both the distal-end-side and rear-end-side portions, preventing displacement by ensuring equal filler introduction through the introduction section and bypass passage, which are configured to maintain equal filler flow rates and reduce fluid friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the spacer is expanded by introducing filler through a single introduction section, then the expansion process is simple, but asymmetric expansion occurs causing the spacer to displace relative to the spinous processes
Solution Approach 1:
The introduction section is divided into multiple introduction sections (first and second introduction sections) positioned at different locations along the spacer. Each introduction section introduces filler to specific expansion sections, enabling controlled symmetric expansion while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple filler introduction passages are introduced as intermediary channels between the filler source and expansion sections. These passages distribute filler symmetrically to both distal-end-side and rear-end-side expansion sections, preventing displacement while keeping the operation straightforward.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the spacer has a largely recessed and projected shape (H-type or dumbbell-type), then the spacer provides better spacing expansion capability, but displacement becomes more conspicuous when asymmetric expansion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Different expansion sections (distal-end-side and rear-end-side) are equipped with dedicated introduction sections and filler introduction passages tailored to their specific locations. This local customization ensures symmetric filler distribution to each region, maintaining positioning stability while preserving the beneficial H-type or dumbbell-type shape for spacing expansion.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer is designed with pre-configured multiple introduction sections and filler introduction passages before the expansion procedure. This preliminary arrangement ensures that filler can be introduced symmetrically to both ends simultaneously, preventing displacement that would otherwise be conspicuous in H-type or dumbbell-type spacers with large recesses and projections.
3Productivity
If filler is introduced at high flow rate to expand the spacer quickly, then the procedure time is reduced, but asymmetric expansion may occur causing displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The filler introduction system is segmented into multiple independent passages (first and second filler introduction passages) that can operate simultaneously. This allows high flow rate filler introduction to be distributed across multiple channels, maintaining rapid expansion speed while ensuring symmetric distribution to prevent displacement.
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
This design effectively prevents spacer displacement, ensuring reliable expansion of the spacing between bones by maintaining the spacer's center position within the interspinal ligament, thereby enhancing the stability and effectiveness of the expansion procedure.
Implementation Method 1
a bypass passage through which part of the filler in the introduction section is introduced into a distal-end-side expansion section of the spacer body
Implementation Method 2
the distal-end-side portion and the rear-end-side portion of the spacer body can be expanded substantially simultaneously
Data Source
AI summary
An expanding device for expanding the spacing between bones is provided. The expanding device includes a spacer configured to be expandable and disposed between the bones, a catheter provided with the spacer at a distal end thereof and adapted to introduce a filler into the spacer, and a sheath having a lumen through which the catheter is inserted and in which the spacer before expansion can be housed. The spacer includes a spacer body configured to be expandable, an introduction section through which a filler is introduced into a rear-end-side expansion section of the spacer body, and a bypass passage through which part of the filler in the introduction section is introduced into a distal-end-side expansion section of the spacer body.