Interspinous Implant with Dovetail Guide for One-Sided Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intervertebral implants require wide distraction of adjacent vertebral bodies and preassembled insertion, making the surgical process invasive and complex.
Innovation Solution
A unilaterally accessible intervertebral implant with form-locking and dovetail guide mechanisms allows one-sided insertion and secure fixation between vertebral processes, enabling direct distraction and reducing surgical complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the implant is preassembled and inserted between spinal processes, then the vertebral bodies can be spaced, but the surgical access becomes invasive and complex requiring wide distraction
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into separate components: two inserts with barbed hook-like appendices and a center piece with gripping elements. These segments can be inserted independently through the lateral surface and then assembled in situ, eliminating the need for wide distraction while maintaining secure fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The center piece acts as an intermediary element that connects the two inserts. It features gripping elements that engage with the inserts and a longitudinal axis that enables controlled assembly from the lateral side, facilitating easy surgical access while ensuring reliable implant fixation.
2Ease of operation
If the implant requires lateral insertion from the other side of the spinal column, then the vertebral bodies can be accessed, but the operating process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The implant exhibits asymmetric design where the center piece has gripping elements oriented to receive the inserts from a specific lateral direction. This asymmetric configuration enables straightforward one-sided insertion from the lateral surface without requiring complex maneuvers from the posterior side.
Solution Approach 2:
The inserts are pre-formed with barbed hook-like appendices that are cast into the center piece during manufacturing. This preliminary integration ensures that when the components are assembled in situ during surgery, they automatically achieve secure connection without requiring complex assembly procedures.
3Strength
If the implant uses barbed hook-like appendices cast into the center piece, then the inserts are held together securely, but the assembly requires precise casting and manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 1:
The barbed hook-like appendices are integrated directly into the center piece through casting, merging the connection function into a single monolithic component. This merging eliminates the need for separate fastening elements and reduces assembly complexity while maintaining strong connection between inserts and center piece.
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
The solution facilitates a less invasive, more controlled, and shorter surgical procedure by allowing one-sided access and direct vertebral body distraction, with optional automatic locking and adjustable elastic properties for optimal anatomical adaptation.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic center piece between them... the motions of the adjacent vertebral bodies are dampened by the elastic center piece
Implementation Method 2
The inserts have at their base surfaces barbed hook-like appendices which are cast into the elastic center piece and hold the inserts together with the center piece
Implementation Method 3
the first structures each comprise a male dovetail guide and the second structures each comprise a female dovetail guide... These dovetail guides allow a free from play assembly of the three parts
Data Source
AI summary
An intervertebral implant has two U-shaped inserts set over each other with a center piece in between. The two inserts each have an opposing base surface, two lateral side surfaces, and a contact surface. The contact surface has a channel configured to receive a spinal process of a vertebral body. The center piece has two resting surfaces corresponding respectively to each contact surfaces. The contact and resting surfaces each have corresponding structures that can engage each other such that the U-shaped inserts can each be fastened in a detachable manner to the center piece. The U-shaped inserts each have on the same lateral side surface connecting means to fasten the inserts to gripping elements of a surgical instrument. And the first and second structures can be engaged or disengaged only by the lateral side surface fitted with the connecting means.