Magnetic Bone Screw Cervical Traction System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating cervical neck pain and stabilizing bones and connective tissues are inadequate in providing consistent, continuous low-magnitude traction forces to maintain disc height and health, and in effectively addressing acute and chronic pain.
Innovation Solution
A bone screw and bone plate system with embedded magnets that can be oriented to generate attractive or repulsive forces, used in conjunction with a disc-shaped housing, to provide stabilization and traction forces across vertebrae, facilitating fusion and reducing deterioration of intervertebral joints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual cervical traction methods (inflatable neck collars, over-the-door traction devices) are used, then soft tissue relaxation and spinal vertebral segment separation are achieved, but consistent continuous low magnitude traction forces cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic bone screw system provides self-sustaining continuous traction forces through magnetic attraction between implanted screws in adjacent vertebrae, eliminating the need for manual operation or external power sources while maintaining consistent force application over time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical traction systems with a magnetic field-based system where magnetic forces between bone screws provide the牵引 force, substituting human-operated mechanical devices with an autonomous magnetic field mechanism
2Strength
If prior fixation or fusion devices are used, then bone and joint stabilization is attempted, but proper stability and healing support are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic field acts as an intermediary force between bone screws in adjacent vertebrae, providing a distributed stabilization mechanism that supports both immediate mechanical strength and long-term healing through continuous low-magnitude traction forces
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines magnetic materials within bone screws with the biological healing process, creating a composite approach that integrates physical stabilization with physiological repair mechanisms
3Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional traction devices are used, then acute and chronic cervical neck pain treatment is attempted, but disc height maintenance and nerve impingement relief are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic bone screws are specifically positioned in adjacent vertebrae to create localized traction forces at the intervertebral disc level, providing targeted relief for disc height maintenance and nerve impingement while addressing cervical pain at its source
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively stabilizes fused intervertebral joints, reduces deterioration of nonfused joints, and provides consistent traction to relieve cervical neck pain by using magnetic forces to maintain disc health and alignment.
Implementation Method 1
a magnet configured to fit within the bore... generate attractive or repulsive forces
Data Source
AI summary
A bone screw comprising a shaft, in which the shaft comprises a bore that is configured to fit a magnet. In addition, a bone plate comprising apertures that can fit the bone screw. The bone plate may be fastened to bone using the bone screws, and the bone screws may be oriented to generate attractive or repulsive forces. Further, a disc-shaped housing that comprises a magnet.