Magnetic Targeting System for Spinal Implant Guidance
Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal implant systems face challenges in minimally invasive procedures, including the risk of damaging neural structures and bony obstructions, radiation exposure, and the need for extensive surgical training, while lacking real-time feedback and customization to individual anatomy.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic targeting system that uses a steering material influenced by a magnetic field to guide biocompatible devices to a target area within the body, providing real-time audio and tactile feedback, reducing tissue damage, and allowing for precise placement without radiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional open surgical technique is used to stabilize bone, then successful treatment of spinal instability and injury is achieved, but large incisions and extensive muscle cutting are required causing lengthy healing time and considerable post-operative pain
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical procedure is divided into multiple percutaneous steps: first inserting anchoring members into individual vertebrae through small incisions, then separately inserting the interconnecting rod through a separate small incision. This segmentation allows each component to be placed through minimal incisions rather than requiring one large open incision, thereby reducing soft tissue damage while achieving the same stabilization result.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If percutaneous procedures are used to reduce soft tissue damage, then smaller incisions are made resulting in reduced recovery time and less post-operative pain, but more novel and innovative approaches are required to perform complicated surgeries
Solution Approach 1:
A magnetic field is introduced as an intermediary to guide the interconnecting rod during insertion. The rod contains magnetic material that responds to an externally applied magnetic field, allowing the surgeon to steer the rod through the target path between vertebrae without direct mechanical manipulation. This intermediary magnetic field simplifies the surgical technique by providing intuitive directional control compared to traditional blind percutaneous insertion methods.
3Measurement precision
If image-based navigation systems are used to guide surgery, then precise placement can be achieved, but radiation exposure is transmitted to patient and surgical staff
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces image-based navigation systems (which often use X-ray or fluoroscopic imaging) with a magnetic field-based guidance system. The magnetic field provides real-time feedback on rod position and orientation without requiring ionizing radiation. The magnetic material in the rod interacts with the external magnetic field to enable precise placement through non-radiographic means, eliminating radiation exposure to patient and staff.
4Ease of operation
If current spinal implant systems are used, then fasteners and interconnecting means can be applied to the spine, but the interconnecting rod cannot be directed around neural structures or bony obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
The interconnecting rod is designed with dynamic steering capability through its magnetic material. During insertion, the external magnetic field can be dynamically adjusted in strength and direction to guide the rod around obstacles. The rod transitions from a static rigid component to a dynamically controllable element that can adapt its path in real-time, allowing navigation around neural structures or bony obstructions while maintaining ease of operation.
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 minimizes soft tissue damage, reduces post-operative pain, and shortens surgery time by enabling precise placement of implants with reduced radiation exposure and fewer complications, while being simpler to operate and adaptable to individual anatomical variables.
Implementation Method 1
a steering material capable of being magnetically influenced
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention describes a magnetic targeting system suitable for guiding a biocompatible device to a target area within the body (in vivo) and method of using the same. The system includes a targeting member having a steering material and is attached to the biocompatible device. The system also includes at least one anchoring member constructed and arranged for the inclusion of a magnetic material effective for influencing the traversal of the steering material, in vivo. The magnetically influenced anchoring member interacts with the targeting member such that the biocompatible device is positionable relative to the target area.