Interspinous Implant With Deployable Locking Wings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical treatments for lumbar spinal stenosis, such as decompressive laminectomy and interspinous process decompression (IPD), often require invasive procedures and incisions for implantation of devices like the X-STOP device, which can be cumbersome and invasive.
Innovation Solution
A spinal implant with deployable wings that can be percutaneously inserted into the interspinous space, utilizing a stylet assembly and deployment mechanism to engage the spinous processes, allowing for minimally invasive procedures and adjustable sizing for optimal placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional decompressive laminectomy is performed, then spinal stenosis is effectively treated, but invasive bone removal and extensive incisions are required
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into a body portion and multiple separate locking wings that can be deployed independently. This segmentation allows the implant to be inserted through a small percutaneous opening and then expanded to engage multiple spinous processes, reducing the need for extensive incisions and bone removal while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking wings are stored within the body portion in a compact configuration during insertion, then deployed outward to engage the spinous processes. This nested design enables minimally invasive insertion through a small opening while achieving the same decompressive effect as traditional laminectomy without extensive bone removal.
2Ease of manufacture
If X-STOP device is used for IPD surgery, then spinal stenosis is treated without bone removal, but incision is still required for implantation
Solution Approach 1:
The implant transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one with deployable locking wings that can be actuated after insertion. This dynamic design allows the implant to be introduced through a small percutaneous opening in a compressed state, then expanded to lock onto the spinous processes, eliminating the need for larger incisions while maintaining the minimally invasive IPD approach.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If percutaneous insertion is implemented, then invasiveness is reduced, but implant stability and engagement reliability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The locking wings are designed with curved engagement surfaces that conform to the curvature of the spinous processes. This curved geometry enhances the mechanical interlocking and engagement reliability when the wings are deployed, ensuring stable fixation even when inserted through a percutaneous approach without extensive surgical exposure.
Data Source
AI summary
A spinal implant for treating lumbar spinal stenosis or as an adjunct to spinal fusion. The implant includes a body portion having an interior cavity. A plurality of locking wings are adapted and configured to move between a stowed position retracted within the interior cavity of the body portion and a deployed position extended from the interior cavity of the body portion. In the deployed position, the wings fix the implant in a selected interspinous space. A cable and wheel arrangement moves the plurality of locking wings from the stowed position to the deployed position and a ratchet/pawl assembly prevents backward movement of the wings.