Modular Intervertebral Implant with Spherical Articulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intervertebral implants lack the ability to individually adapt to patient anatomy, restricting the range of motion and center of rotation, which limits their effectiveness in mimicking natural disc function and complicates surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A modular intervertebral implant system comprising two components with adjustable spherical articulation surfaces and heights, allowing for customizable selection of the center of rotation and motion range through various component combinations, enabling individual anatomical adaptation and flexible surgical approaches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single-size implant with predefined center of rotation is used, then the implant structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the implant cannot adapt to individual patient anatomy and motion requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into two separate components (first component with concave spherical articulation surface and second component with convex spherical articulation surface) that can be selectively combined in different configurations. This segmentation allows the surgeon to choose different component combinations to match individual patient anatomy while maintaining a relatively simple design for each individual component.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant system is designed with universal components that can serve multiple functions through different combinations. The same basic component design can be used for different patient anatomies and motion requirements by varying the component selection, eliminating the need for completely different implants for each application scenario.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the radius of articulation surfaces is fixed, then the implant manufacturing is simplified, but the center of rotation cannot be individually adapted to patient needs
Solution Approach 1:
The articulation surfaces are segmented into separate concave and convex spherical surfaces on different components. By selecting different component combinations, the effective radius of the articulation can be adjusted to position the center of rotation at different locations relative to the vertebral bodies, while each individual surface maintains a simple fixed radius design for easy manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of varying the radius of a single articulation surface, the system adjusts the center of rotation position by changing the spatial relationship between two components with fixed radii. This shifts the problem from one dimension (radius variation) to another dimension (component configuration and positioning), maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving adaptability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a modular design with multiple component options is provided, then individual anatomical adaptation is enabled, but the device complexity and selection difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is segmented into standardized first and second components with specific geometric characteristics (concave/convex spherical surfaces). This segmentation creates a limited set of pre-defined options that are easy to select and implant, avoiding the complexity of fully custom designs while still enabling individual anatomical adaptation through component combination.
Data Source
AI summary
A modular intervertebral implant including a first and second component connectable in a ball-joint like manner. The first component having a first surface configured to abut an end plate of a first adjoining vertebral body and a concave spherical articulation surface with a radius R. The second component having a second surface configured to abut an end plate of a second adjoining vertebral body and a convex spherical articulation surface with substantially the same radius R as the concave spherical articulation surface.