Interspinous Spacer With Adjustable Lateral Plates
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinous process plate systems are inflexible, often require multiple instruments, and cause significant lateral muscle retraction, leading to increased recovery time and difficulty in visualization during spinal stabilization procedures.
Innovation Solution
An interspinous spacer assembly with a pre-assembled spacer body, lateral plates, and a locking mechanism, along with a crimping tool that minimizes lateral muscle retraction and allows easy insertion and locking, accommodating varying spinal anatomy and reducing the need for multiple instruments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If rigid spinous process plate systems are used to stabilize the spine, then spinal stability is improved, but adaptability to varying anatomy is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral plates are made adjustable in width through a telescoping mechanism with adjustment members that can be positioned at multiple locations along the longitudinal axis. This allows the plate system to adapt dynamically to different spinous process anatomies while maintaining rigid stabilization when locked in place.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate width parameter can be changed by adjusting the position of adjustment members on the telescoping structure. This enables the same plate to accommodate varying spinal anatomies by changing its effective width parameter before insertion.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple separate instruments are used for plate insertion and locking, then precision of implantation is improved, but device complexity and surgical time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The implantation tool and locking tool functions are merged into a single integrated instrument. The tool can be configured to perform both the insertion/implantation of the lateral plates and the subsequent locking operation through a unified handle and linkage mechanism, reducing the number of separate instruments needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical tool is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both an implantation tool for positioning lateral plates and a locking tool for securing them. This universal tool eliminates the need for separate specialized instruments for each step of the procedure.
3Force
If large crimping instruments are used to compress plates for locking, then locking force is improved, but surgical visibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism transitions from a lateral compression approach to a longitudinal crimping approach. Instead of compressing plates from the outside laterally, the instrument crimps the locking members along the longitudinal axis of the spinous process, allowing the surgeon to visualize the implant site while applying sufficient locking force.
4Ease of operation
If significant lateral muscle retraction is performed to access spinous processes, then access to implant site is improved, but recovery time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plate system is segmented into multiple adjustable lateral plates that can be independently positioned and secured to adjacent spinous processes. This segmentation allows for a more distributed attachment pattern that reduces the need for extensive lateral muscle retraction while maintaining stable access to the implant site.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to an interspinous spacer assembly for implantation and/or affixation between spinous processes of adjacent superior and inferior vertebrae and associated tools and methods for stabilizing the human spine. The interspinous spacer assembly includes a spacer body, a first lateral plate, a second lateral plate and a locking mechanism extending through a channel provided in the spacer body and coupling the first and second lateral plates to the spacer body.