Modular Spinal Bone Fastener with Multi-Axial Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal implant systems for treating musculoskeletal disorders, such as scoliosis and degenerative disc disease, face challenges in providing adequate stability and flexibility during surgical procedures, particularly in accommodating multi-axial movements and varying anatomical orientations, which can lead to suboptimal alignment and increased surgical complexity.
Innovation Solution
A modular spinal implant system featuring a bone fastener with a dual rod multi-axial screw design, including interchangeable heads and shafts, that allows for multi-axial movement and adjustable orientation, facilitating rod-to-rod connections and enabling improved visualization and access during surgery, while reducing the size footprint for enhanced positioning and cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a traditional spinal implant system is used, then the surgical procedure is simpler, but the alignment precision and adaptability to multi-axial movements are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The bone fastener is divided into separate modular components: a head portion with rod slots and a shaft portion with tissue engagement features. These segments can be independently selected and assembled to match specific surgical requirements, enabling precise alignment while maintaining manageable surgical complexity through systematic modularity.
Solution Approach 2:
The bone fastener incorporates multi-axial movement capability through its design, allowing the head and shaft to move relative to each other along multiple axes. This dynamic feature enables the implant to adapt to varying anatomical orientations and multi-axial movements while maintaining stable fixation, thereby improving alignment precision without requiring overly complex surgical procedures.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed orientation implant is used, then the device structure is simpler, but the adaptability to varying anatomical orientations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The bone fastener head includes multiple rod slots oriented at different angles and the shaft provides multi-axial movement capability, enabling a single device to accommodate various anatomical orientations and surgical approaches. This multi-functional design allows the same basic structure to serve multiple functions across different patient anatomies without requiring entirely different implant designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic multi-axial movement capability of the bone fastener allows it to adapt to varying anatomical orientations in real-time during and after implantation. The head and shaft can move relative to each other along multiple axes, providing versatility for different surgical approaches and anatomical conditions while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a modular bone fastener with multi-axial movement is used, then the adaptability and alignment precision are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The modular design separates the bone fastener into a head portion with rod slots and a shaft portion with tissue engagement features. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity. The multi-axial movement capability is achieved through the interface between these simple segments rather than through a complex integrated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic multi-axial movement capability is achieved through a relatively simple interface between the head and shaft portions. This dynamic feature allows adaptability to varying anatomical orientations without requiring a overly complex device structure, as the movement capability emerges from the modular connection rather than from complex internal mechanisms.
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 provides enhanced stability and flexibility, allowing for precise alignment and fixation of spinal rods, reducing surgical complexity and improving treatment outcomes for various spinal disorders, including degenerative disc disease, scoliosis, and other curvature abnormalities, while being adaptable to different surgical approaches and anatomical conditions.
Implementation Method 1
A first resilient member is configured for disposal within the plurality of adjacent grooves and a second resilient member is configured for disposal within the plurality of adjacent grooves
Data Source
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AI summary
A bone fastener includes a head including a first receiver defining an implant cavity and a distal portion defining a plurality of adjacent grooves. The head further includes a second receiver defining an implant cavity. A first resilient member is configured for disposal within the plurality of adjacent grooves and a second resilient member is configured for disposal within the plurality of adjacent grooves. A shaft is aligned with the first receiver and is configured to engage tissue. Systems, surgical instruments, spinal constructs, implants and methods are disclosed.