Interspinous Implant Composite Damping Lateral Creep
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interspinous implants made of deformable materials face issues with insufficient damping capacity, particularly in strong patients or those with local compensatory hyperlordosis, leading to excessive distraction and pressure on the intervertebral disc, and inadequate holding during spinal column movements.
Innovation Solution
The implant is designed with a central part made from a first elastically deformable material and two lateral parts made from a more rigid material, connected through a connecting part, which opposes lateral creep and enhances stability and holding, allowing for lateral insertion and potential ligament passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the implant is made from a block of deformable material, then it provides damping capacity, but it exhibits lateral creep under compression forces
Solution Approach 1:
The implant combines two different elastically deformable materials with distinct properties: a softer central part for damping and harder lateral parts for structural stability. This composite construction allows each material to perform its specialized function, resolving the contradiction between damping capacity and lateral creep resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the implant are assigned different material properties tailored to their specific functional requirements. The central part uses a softer material optimized for damping, while the lateral parts use a harder material optimized for resisting creep, allowing each zone to have the quality it needs for its role.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the implant uses rigid pieces, then it resists lateral creep, but it increases the risk of wear and movement
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than using fully rigid material, the invention employs a composite of two elastically deformable materials where the lateral parts provide creep resistance through their enhanced rigidity while maintaining the elastic properties that prevent wear and movement associated with completely rigid constructions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the lateral parts by selecting material with higher rigidity and elastic modulus compared to the central part. This parameter adjustment allows the lateral parts to resist creep while the overall elastic nature of both materials prevents the wear and movement problems associated with rigid pieces.
3Ease of manufacture
If the implant uses a single material, then it is simple to manufacture, but it cannot simultaneously provide optimal damping and structural support
Solution Approach 1:
The implant uses composite materials constructed in two distinct zones. While the manufacturing process is slightly more complex than a single-material implant, it remains relatively simple through techniques like overmolding or inserts. The performance benefits in damping and structural support justify the moderate increase in manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant is segmented into two functional zones with different material properties. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining a unified structure that can be manufactured using standard medical device techniques such as two-shot molding or insert molding.
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 provides improved damping capacity and stability, reducing the risk of implant movement and potential ligament engagement, ensuring secure positioning even during twisting and bending movements of the spinal column.
Implementation Method 1
the insufficient damping capacity of the existing implant resulted, in certain clinical anatomical situations, from a lateral creep of the material of the implant under the effect of said compression forces
Implementation Method 2
produce an elastically deformable interspinous implant able to damp the posterior movement of the vertebrae during extension of the spinal column
Implementation Method 3
an interspinous implant formed by a block of elastically deformable material
Data Source
Figure 1~6
AI summary
This interspinous implant (1) is able to be engaged between the spinal processes of two vertebrae and formed by a block (10, 11) of elastically deformable material. According to the invention, said block is subdivided into a central part (10) made from a first elastically deformable material and two lateral parts (11) made from a second elastically deformable material, more rigid than said first material, said lateral parts (11) being situated on the two opposite lateral sides of the central part (10), that is to say on the sides intended to be situated longitudinally on each side of the spinal processes after implantation, and being connected to said central part (10).