Intervertebral Implant Structure for Strength and Bone Ingrowth

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spinal fusion implants lack sufficient structural strength, biocompatibility, and promote inadequate bone ingrowth, leading to potential implant displacement and slow fusion rates.

Innovation Solution

Intervertebral implants with a solid support structure integrated with a volumetric, interconnected porosity, manufactured using additive manufacturing techniques, providing structural integrity while facilitating bone ingrowth and fusion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a solid structure is used for the implant, then structural strength is improved, but bone ingrowth capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidbone ingrowth capability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The implant employs local quality by differentiating regions into solid support structures for mechanical strength and porous regions for bone ingrowth. The solid portions provide structural integrity while the porous portions facilitate bone integration, resolving the contradiction between strength and biocompatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The implant utilizes composite materials by integrating both solid and porous structures within a single device. This composite approach allows the implant to simultaneously provide mechanical strength through solid regions and promote bone ingrowth through porous regions, addressing both requirements without compromise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If a porous structure is used for the implant, then bone ingrowth capability is improved, but structural strength deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebone ingrowth capabilityVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The implant employs local quality by differentiating regions into solid support structures for mechanical strength and porous regions for bone ingrowth. The solid portions provide structural integrity while the porous portions facilitate bone integration, resolving the contradiction between strength and biocompatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The implant utilizes composite materials by integrating both solid and porous structures within a single device. This composite approach allows the implant to simultaneously provide mechanical strength through solid regions and promote bone ingrowth through porous regions, addressing both requirements without compromise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional manufacturing methods are used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but manufacturing precision and structural complexity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidstructural precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical manufacturing processes with additive manufacturing technology. This substitution enables the creation of complex integrated structures with precise control over both solid and porous regions, achieving high manufacturing precision while maintaining ease of production through digital modeling and layer-by-layer construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20250281304A1Intervertebral spinal implant

Publication Date: 2025.09.11 GLOBUS MEDICAL INC

AI summary

An intervertebral implant for implantation in an intervertebral space between vertebrae. The implant includes a body extending from an upper surface to a lower surface. The body has a front end, a rear end and a pair of spaced apart first and second side walls extending between the front and rear walls such that an interior chamber is defined within the front and rear ends and the first and second walls. The body defines an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter extending about the internal chamber. At least one of the side walls is defined by a solid support structure and an integral porous structure, the porous structure extending from the outer perimeter to the inner perimeter. The porous structure embeds or encapsulates at least a portion of the solid support structure.