Intervertebral Instrument with Guiding Tracks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intervertebral distracting instruments are bulky and obstruct the surgeon's view, making it difficult to perform spinal fusion procedures efficiently, and there is a need for a system that allows for vertebral body distraction without obstructing the view while providing a pathway for introducing devices into the intervertebral disc space.
Innovation Solution
An intervertebral instrument with a shaft having distal and proximal ends, including a track for guiding instruments and implants, and a removably attachable tip that engages implants to function as an implantable intervertebral disk, allowing for bone graft or bone enhancers to facilitate bone ingrowth, and can be used with various approaches such as anterior, posterior, or transforaminally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sled style instrument is used to introduce an anterior spacer device, then vertebral body distraction and device introduction are achieved, but the instrument becomes bulky and obstructs the clinician's working view
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is divided into separate functional components: a distractor component for vertebral body distraction and an implant delivery component for introducing the spacer device. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall bulk while maintaining full functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument is designed to perform multiple functions: it can distract vertebral bodies, deliver anterior spacer devices, and potentially accommodate different implant types. The universal design allows a single instrument system to replace multiple specialized tools, reducing the need for bulky specialized instruments.
2Ease of operation
If a sled style instrument is used to introduce an anterior spacer device, then vertebral body distraction is achieved, but the instrument obstructs the clinician's working view
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the distraction function from the delivery function into different components, the instrument profile is reduced. The thinner delivery component does not obstruct the surgical field and clinician's view, while the distraction function is performed by the separate distractor component.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the instrument is designed to accommodate different patient sizes, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument accommodates different patient sizes by allowing adjustment of key parameters such as distraction force, implant size, and component configuration. Rather than designing multiple specialized instruments for different patient sizes, the system allows parameter adjustment within a single instrument platform.
Solution Approach 2:
A single universal instrument design is created that can accommodate various patient sizes and implant types through configurable components and adjustable parameters, eliminating the need for multiple patient-size-specific instruments.
Data Source
AI summary
An intervertebral instrument includes a shaft having distal and proximal ends. The proximal end of the shaft includes an attaching feature connected to handle. The shaft defines a pair tracks disposed along a portion of the surface thereof. The distal end includes a pair of wings. Each track guides instruments and implants along the intervertebral instrument. The implants are configured to receive bone graft or bone enhancers. The distal end of the shaft may include a removably attachable tip configured to engage the implants. The implants and the removably attachable tip form an implantable intervertebral disk. An intervertebral instrument and implant kit is also disclosed. A method of inserting intervertebral implants is also disclosed.