Modular Vertebral Implants for Multiplanar Spinal Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The impracticality of manufacturing and stocking all possible combinations of interbody implants for correcting abnormal spinal curvatures in both coronal and sagittal planes, as well as the unavailability of usable correction angles for most cases, limits the effectiveness of existing spinal implant solutions.
Innovation Solution
A vertebral implant system comprising separate coronal and sagittal angle implants that can be stacked and secured with a connector, allowing for independent or combined use to achieve desired spinal curvatures, constructed from biocompatible materials like titanium, cobalt-chrome, and polymers, with bone engagement features and recesses for secure positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If all possible combinations of interbody implants for correcting abnormal spinal curvatures in both coronal and sagittal planes are manufactured and stocked, then complete coverage of all correction angle needs is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and inventory requirements become impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The implant system is divided into separate modular components: a first interbody implant providing correction in the coronal plane and a second interbody implant providing correction in the sagittal plane. These separate implants can be used independently or combined, allowing the system to achieve multiple correction angles without manufacturing all possible combination implants. This segmentation reduces inventory requirements while maintaining comprehensive adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If implants providing correction in both coronal and sagittal planes are manufactured, then multiplanar correction capability is achieved, but the unique combination of correction angles is likely unusable in most cases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than manufacturing single implants with fixed compound correction angles that are unusable in most cases, the system segments the correction function into two separate implants with independently selectable correction angles. This allows clinicians to choose the appropriate combination based on patient-specific needs, greatly improving usability while maintaining multiplanar correction capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables dynamic selection of correction angles by allowing clinicians to independently select the degree of correction provided by each implant component. This dynamic configurability replaces static, fixed-angle implants with a flexible system that can be adapted to various clinical scenarios, enhancing ease of operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate coronal and sagittal angle implants are used independently or in conjunction, then flexibility in achieving desired spinal curvatures is improved, but device assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses separate coronal and sagittal angle implants that can be independently selected and implanted. This segmentation provides flexibility in achieving desired spinal curvatures while keeping each individual implant component relatively simple in design, balancing adaptability with manufacturing simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A vertebral implant for use in establishing desired spinal curvatures includes separate implant bodies. Each body may include an associated angle between inferior and superior surfaces of the body. Further, the implant bodies may be stacked so that the associated angles are oriented in different anatomical planes. The implant bodies may be secured to one another with a connector. The implant bodies may be used either independently or in conjunction with one another to achieve a desired spinal curvature. Each implant body may include bone engagement features that extend outward from the superior and inferior surfaces of the implant body. The implant bodies may include recesses that are positioned to correspond to the bone engagement protrusions in other implant bodies to allow contact between the inferior and superior surfaces of the respective implant bodies.