Lateral Distractor for Spinal Cage Height Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal surgery methods face challenges in maintaining normal disc spacing and lordosis after partial or complete discectomy, as existing approaches often require anterior or posterior access, which may not effectively address vertebral misalignment and collapse.
Innovation Solution
A surgical device comprising a cage distractor with movable distractor blades, an inserter positioner, and a clip inserter, allowing for lateral access and adjustment of a corpectomy cage height, enabling secure attachment and distraction of the cage to maintain disc spacing and lordosis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If anterior or posterior access is used to insert prosthetic spacers, then the intervertebral spaces can be accessed, but the procedure cannot effectively address vertebral misalignment and collapse through lateral distraction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional anterior or posterior approaches to a lateral approach, changing the dimensional access route to the intervertebral space. This lateral dimension enables simultaneous access to the cage and application of lateral distraction forces, effectively addressing vertebral misalignment and collapse that cannot be corrected through traditional approaches
2Stability of the object's composition
If a corpectomy cage is inserted to maintain disc spacing, then vertebral alignment can be maintained, but the cage height cannot be adjusted after insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic distraction device with movable distractor blades that can be adjusted during the procedure. The blades are initially inserted in a collapsed state, then gradually distracted to expand the cage to the desired height, allowing real-time adjustment of cage height while maintaining stability throughout the process
Solution Approach 2:
The distractor blades are pre-positioned within the cage structure before final cage insertion. This preliminary positioning allows the blades to be distracted and expand the cage to the correct height before the cage is permanently secured in place, ensuring proper disc spacing is achieved
3Adaptability or versatility
If distractor blades are used to adjust cage height, then cage distraction is possible, but secure attachment of the blades to the cage is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces attachment members as intermediary elements that connect the distractor blades to the cage. These attachment members include engagement features that securely attach to both the blade and cage structure, providing reliable mechanical connection throughout the distraction process without compromising blade mobility or cage integrity
Data Source
AI summary
A distraction device includes a cage distractor, two distractor blades, an inserter positioner, and a clip inserter. The cage distractor is selectively securable to the two distractor blades and includes two distractor housings moveable relative to one another. The inserter positioner is selectively securable to the two distractor blades and include a center member that is centered between the distractor blades when the inserter positioner is secured to the two distractor blades. The clip inserter is configured to secure a clip to a distal end thereof and is slidable through the center member to secure the clip to a cage distracted by the movement of the two distractor housings away from one another. The clip maintaining the distraction of the cage.