Modular Spinal Brace with Rotatable Interlocking Components

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current spinal braces lack adjustability and structural integrity to support the spine in various positions and are not easily attachable to mobility items, limiting their effectiveness for individuals with physical disabilities or injuries.

Innovation Solution

A modular supportive spinal brace composed of rotatably interlocking components with user-configurable rotational offsets, enhanced by lateral interlocks and elongate plate connectors, allowing for customizable undulation and increased structural rigidity, along with attachment options for mobility aids.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a traditional non-modular spinal brace is used, then the structural integrity is maintained, but the adjustability and configurability for various spinal positions are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadjustabilityVSAvoidcomplexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spinal brace is divided into multiple modular components including superior and inferior end components, vertebral body replacements, and interbody fusion devices that can be independently selected and assembled. This segmentation allows customization for different spinal conditions and positions while maintaining structural integrity through standardized interlocking mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The brace incorporates rotatable interlock portions with meshing teeth that enable dynamic adjustment of rotational offsets between components. This allows the spinal brace to be configured in various positions and orientations to support different spinal postures, transitioning from a static to a dynamically adjustable structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If a modular design with rotatably interlocking components is used, then the adjustability and user configurability are improved, but the structural integrity and rigidity may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveconfigurabilityVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The modular components feature nested interlocking mechanisms where superior and inferior end components contain rotatable interlock portions with meshing teeth. These nested structures allow rotational adjustment while maintaining strong mechanical engagement, ensuring structural integrity is preserved even with multiple movable interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The vertebral body replacements and interbody fusion devices utilize composite construction combining rigid materials for structural support with adjustable mechanical interfaces. This composite approach allows the brace to be both strong and configurable, maintaining structural integrity while enabling user adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If lateral interlock components and elongate plate connectors are added, then the structural rigidity is enhanced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural rigidityVSAvoidcomplexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Lateral interlock components and elongate plate connectors are integrated into the existing modular system using the same standardized interlocking interfaces. This merging approach allows additional rigidity-enhancing elements to be added without creating entirely new connection systems, thereby reducing the increase in overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The lateral interlock components and plate connectors are strategically positioned at specific locations where additional rigidity is needed, rather than uniformly throughout the entire brace. This localized approach enhances structural rigidity where required while minimizing the addition of unnecessary components elsewhere.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Adaptability or versatility

If meshing interlocks with bolts are used for interlocking components, then the adjustability at rotational increments is achieved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotational adjustabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The meshing teeth and rotational increments are pre-configured during manufacturing of the modular components. This preliminary action allows the complex rotational adjustment mechanism to be built-in during fabrication, reducing the complexity of final assembly and making the adjustable features easier to manufacture as integrated components rather than field-assembled elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3585323B1A modular supportive spinal brace

Publication Date: 2023.09.27 POLYSPINE HLDG PTY LTD

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AI summary

A supportive spinal brace easily configurable to support disabled or injured and various chosen postures. The spinal brace comprises a plurality of rotatably interlocking components (101). The rotatably interlocking components are able to interlock together in-line at various user configurable rotational offsets to form a user configurable supportive undulation along the length of the brace. In an embodiment, the rotatably interlocking components define portions which interlock together at medial side (104, 105) thereof and at lateral sides (106) thereof with laterally adjacent plates (108), thereby supporting each interlocking portion at both medial and lateral sides thereof for enhanced structural integrity of the brace.