Intervertebral Implant Frame With Flexible Arms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current intervertebral implants face challenges with stability in flexion and extension, particularly when using allograft spacer bodies that may vary in shape and degrade over time, and existing devices do not effectively lock to vertebral bodies, leading to potential discomfort and dysphasia.

Innovation Solution

An intervertebral implant frame with flexible arms that can elastically expand to receive and securely retain a spacer body, featuring fixation element receiving apertures and crimp members to attach to vertebral bodies, ensuring stability and retention of the spacer body.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a threaded intervertebral device is inserted into the intervertebral space to provide graft retention, then graft retention is improved, but stability in flexion and extension deteriorates because the device does not positively lock to the vertebral bodies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegraft retentionVSAvoidstability in flexion and extension

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into distinct functional components: a body for graft retention and separate locking arms that extend laterally to engage with vertebral bodies. This segmentation allows the graft retention function to be separated from the stabilization function, enabling each to be optimized independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device includes pre-formed engagement features on the locking arms that are designed to positively lock to the vertebral bodies during implantation. The locking arms are pre-configured with surfaces and geometries that facilitate immediate mechanical interlocking, eliminating the need for additional locking steps after graft insertion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If allograft spacer bodies are used to accommodate varying shapes, then adaptability is improved, but reliability deteriorates because allograft may degrade or resorb over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of varying spacer body shapesVSAvoidresistance to degradation and resorption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device body is designed with a universal geometry that can accommodate different types of spacer bodies (allograft, autograft, synthetic) with varying shapes and sizes. The engagement surfaces and retention features are configured to work with multiple spacer body configurations, making the device adaptable to different clinical scenarios while maintaining reliable mechanical engagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Stability of the object's composition

If a plate is used on the anterior aspect to provide stability during healing, then stability is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates due to dysphasia caused by the plate profile

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability during healingVSAvoiddysphasia and patient discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizing function is extracted from the anterior plate location and relocated to lateral locking arms that engage with the vertebral bodies from the side. This removes the bulky anterior profile that causes dysphasia while preserving the stability function through the lateral engagement mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The stabilization approach transitions from an anterior-posterior dimension (plate on front surface) to a lateral dimension (locking arms extending sideways). This dimensional shift eliminates the anterior bulk that interferes with swallowing while achieving stability through lateral mechanical interlocking with the vertebral bodies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 intervertebral implant frame provides enhanced stability and retention of the spacer body, maintaining intervertebral space height and facilitating bone growth, while accommodating varying spacer body shapes and preventing migration or degradation.

Implementation Method 1

at least one of the first and second arms is flexible so as to be movable between a first position, whereby the frame defines a first distance between the first and second contact locations along the first direction, and a second position, whereby the frame defines a second distance between the first and second contact locations along the first direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11458027B2Intervertebral implants, systems, and methods of use

Publication Date: 2022.10.04 DEPUY SYNTHES PROD INC

AI summary

An intervertebral implant frame that is configured to be attached to a spacer body can include a pair of arms that extend longitudinally from a support member such that the arms extend substantially around the spacer body. The arms may be configured to expand, crimp, or otherwise engage the spacer body to thereby hold the spacer body to the frame. The spacer body may be made from bone graft.