Low-Profile Prosthetic Intervertebral Disc With Domed Endplates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current artificial intervertebral discs do not provide a low profile that mimics natural anatomy, especially for patients with smaller disc heights, and their flat vertebral body contacting surfaces result in less than ideal bone to implant contact.
Innovation Solution
An intervertebral disc design featuring superior and inferior endplates with domed central portions and complementary core configurations that match the natural anatomy, allowing for a reduced height and improved vertebral body contact surfaces, enabling more natural motion and fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional flat vertebral body contacting surfaces are used in artificial discs, then manufacturing is simpler, but bone to implant contact is less than ideal
Solution Approach 1:
The endplates are designed with a domed central portion and peripheral flange configuration, replacing flat surfaces with curved anatomical contours that match the natural vertebral body interface. This curvature improves bone-to-implant contact area and stress distribution while maintaining manufacturability through standardized forming processes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If artificial discs with higher height are used, then they can accommodate larger patients, but they cause overstuffing and migration in patients with smaller disc heights
Solution Approach 1:
The artificial disc is divided into distinct height variations (first height for larger patients, second height for smaller patients), allowing selection based on patient anatomy. This segmentation enables precise matching to individual disc space requirements, preventing overstuffing and migration while maintaining versatility across patient populations.
Solution Approach 2:
The endplate geometry is modified with domed central portions and peripheral flanges that can be configured in different height parameters. By changing the height parameter while maintaining the anatomical contour design, the implant adapts to different patient sizes without compromising stability or causing overstuffing.
3Shape
If artificial discs with domed central portions and peripheral flanges are used, then anatomical matching is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The domed central portion and peripheral flange are merged into a single integrated endplate structure rather than separate components. This integration achieves complex anatomical matching while simplifying manufacturing and assembly, reducing device complexity despite the enhanced geometric fidelity to natural vertebral interfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
An intervertebral disc includes a superior endplate having an upper vertebral contacting surface and a lower bearing surface, wherein the upper vertebral contacting surface of the superior endplate has a central portion that is raised relative to a peripheral portion of the superior endplate, and wherein the lower bearing surface has a concavity disposed opposite the raised central portion. The disc includes an inferior endplate having a lower vertebral contacting surface and an upper surface, wherein the lower vertebral contacting surface of the inferior endplate has a central portion and wherein the upper bearing surface has a concavity disposed opposite the central portion. A core is positioned between the upper and inferior endplates, the core having upper and lower core bearing surfaces configured to mate with the bearing surfaces of the upper and inferior endplates. The upper vertebral contacting surface of the superior end plate has a different shape than the lower vertebral contacting surface of the inferior end plate.