Anterior Lumbar Cage Plate Assembly Angled Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current interbody fusion devices require surgical removal of the intervertebral disc and lack sufficient structural integrity and stability to withstand stress during the fusion process.
Innovation Solution
A plate and cage assembly with angled holes for fixation members, coupled with an inserter device using clips and push rods to secure the assembly between vertebral bodies, providing enhanced stability and structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If surgical removal of the intervertebral disc is performed and standard interbody spacers are inserted, then the intervertebral space can be stabilized, but the structural integrity and stability of the spacer is insufficient to withstand stress during the fusion process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the interbody spacer with a plate structure to form an integrated assembly. The plate is coupled to the spacer body and includes fixation members that extend into the vertebral body, creating a unified structure that provides both spacing and anchoring functions simultaneously, thereby enhancing structural integrity without requiring separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixation members are pre-positioned in the plate structure before implantation. The plate is designed with predetermined openings and angled configurations that allow fixation members to be inserted at specific angles into the vertebral body, ensuring proper positioning and stress distribution before the fusion process begins.
2Reliability
If standard interbody spacers are used after disc removal, then the procedure is straightforward, but the spacers lack sufficient stability to remain securely in place prior to bone ingrowth fusion
Solution Approach 1:
The implant device is divided into distinct functional components: the spacer body for maintaining intervertebral height, the plate for structural support, and fixation members for anchoring into the vertebral body. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while being assembled into a cohesive unit that provides enhanced stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate acts as an intermediary structure between the spacer body and the fixation members. It provides a stable platform that distributes loads and facilitates the transfer of forces from the spacer to the vertebral body through the fixation members, thereby enhancing overall stability during the fusion process.
3Strength
If fixation members are inserted at angled orientations, then secure anchoring in the vertebral body is achieved, but the device complexity and surgical precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The plate structure incorporates asymmetrically positioned openings with specific angular orientations (e.g., 45 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis). This asymmetric design allows fixation members to be inserted at optimized angles that maximize anchoring strength in the vertebral bone, while the pre-formed plate geometry guides the insertion process and reduces the need for complex intraoperative alignment procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A plate and cage assembly for stabilization of vertebral bodies. The assembly includes at least one fixation member, a cage having a proximal wall, a superior surface and an inferior surface (the superior surface and the inferior surface for engaging adjacent vertebrae), and a plate coupled to the cage and having at least one hole traversing the plate at an angle for insertion of the at least one fixation member into one of the vertebral bodies. The proximal wall of the cage has a blind hole, and the plate has a threaded screw hole aligned with the blind hole in the proximal wall of the cage.