Intervertebral Spacer With Rotatable Insert For Transforaminal Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intervertebral spacers face challenges in achieving optimal fusion of vertebral bodies due to insufficient structural rigidity, difficulty in insertion through small profiles, and limited ability to promote bony ingrowth, leading to potential failure under loading conditions and instability in the spine.
Innovation Solution
The design of the spacer includes tooling engagement surfaces for efficient insertion, enhanced structural rigidity to withstand axial compression and torsion, and configurations that facilitate bony ingrowth, such as protrusions and openings for fusion visualization, using biocompatible materials like titanium or PEEK polymers, and a rotatable insert assembly for stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the spacer is made with sufficient structural rigidity to support the spine under loading conditions, then the strength and stability are improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of insertion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer is divided into multiple components including a support body, rotatable insert assembly, and tooling engagement surfaces. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the support body provides structural rigidity while the rotatable insert and tooling surfaces facilitate insertion through small profiles without increasing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable insert assembly allows the spacer to be inserted dynamically through a small profile and then rotated into its final position. This dynamic insertion mechanism enables the spacer to achieve both structural rigidity and ease of insertion through the same device, resolving the contradiction between strength and device complexity
2Ease of operation
If the spacer is designed with a small profile for efficient insertion, then the ease of operation is improved, but the structural rigidity and ability to withstand loading conditions deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable insert assembly enables the spacer to be inserted through a small profile and then rotated into its final position. This dynamic mechanism allows the spacer to maintain a small insertion profile while achieving the structural rigidity needed to withstand spinal loading conditions after installation
Solution Approach 2:
By separating the insertion function (tooling engagement surfaces) from the structural function (support body), the design allows each to be optimized - the tooling surfaces enable easy insertion through small profiles while the support body provides the necessary structural rigidity
3Strength
If the spacer uses solid structures made of radio opaque materials like titanium, then the strength and rigidity are improved, but the ability to promote bony ingrowth and radiological visualization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer incorporates openings and channels at specific locations to promote bony ingrowth, while maintaining solid structures in areas requiring structural strength. This local differentiation allows the spacer to simultaneously achieve both structural integrity and biological integration without requiring entirely different materials
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer can be made from composite materials or combinations of materials that provide both structural strength and radiological visualization capabilities. This allows the spacer to meet both the mechanical requirements for strength and the biological requirements for bony ingrowth promotion
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods for implant installation and assembly between adjacent vertebral bodies of a patient. The implant has a support body and a rotatable insert therein and the support body is curved for installation between adjacent vertebral bodies transforaminally. An installation instrument is also disclosed for removable attachment to implant and engagement with the rotatable insert to selectively permit rotation between the insert and the support body. The installation instrument extends along a longitudinal tool axis and when the installation instrument is in a first position the insert is rotationally fixed with respect to the support body and when the installation instrument is in a second position the support body may rotate with respect to the insert. Methods of installing multiple implants are also disclosed.