Intervertebral Prosthetic Device for Post-Laminectomy Spinal Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Intervertebral prosthetic devices require support from both spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae for implantation, making it impossible to implant them after a laminectomy that removes the spinous process from one vertebra, as this procedure is often necessary to relieve pain by fusing vertebral segments and decompressing nerve roots.
Innovation Solution
An intervertebral prosthetic device design that can be implanted between two adjacent vertebrae, one of which is void of a spinous process, utilizing a body member with a curved notch for non-rigid connection and screws or other fixation elements for rigid connection to the pedicles, allowing for motion stabilization without relying on spinous processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a laminectomy is performed to remove the spinous process for pain relief and nerve decompression, then the patient experiences relief from pain and nerve compression, but it becomes impossible to implant conventional intervertebral prosthetic devices that require support from both spinous processes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the dependency on spinous processes from the prosthetic device design. The device is reconfigured to attach to pedicles and vertebral bodies instead of relying on spinous processes, thereby removing the constraint that prevented implantation after laminectomy.
Solution Approach 2:
The prosthetic device is designed with universal attachment capability that works both before and after laminectomy. By providing multiple attachment options (pedicle screws, bone anchors, direct vertebral body fixation), the device can adapt to various surgical scenarios including cases where spinous processes are intact or removed.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional intervertebral prosthetic devices are designed to be supported by spinous processes, then the device structure is simplified and easier to implant, but the device cannot be implanted when spinous processes are absent due to laminectomy
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into modular components with different attachment mechanisms. This allows the device to be configured for specific patient needs - using spinous process attachment when available, or switching to pedicle/vertebral body attachment when spinous processes are removed, maintaining simplicity while increasing adaptability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If vertebral segments are fused together to stop motion and relieve pain after laminectomy, then pain relief is achieved, but spinal motion stabilization is lost and the spine becomes rigid
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthetic device introduces dynamic stabilization instead of rigid fusion. The device allows controlled motion between vertebral segments while providing stability, enabling the spine to maintain natural movement patterns even after laminectomy and disc removal.
Data Source
AI summary
An intervertebral prosthetic device and method for spinal stabilization, according to which a prosthetic device is implanted relative to two vertebrae and is positioned so that it makes a rigid connection with one of the vertebra and a non-rigid connection with the other vertebra.