Monoblock Cervical Implant with Uncinate Wings
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for afflictions affecting the uncinate joints and intervertebral discs in the cervical spine often result in significant neurological issues due to the invasive nature of traditional spinal fusion methods, which can cause pain and paralysis, and lack effective solutions for preserving spinal mobility and intervertebral disc health.
Innovation Solution
A monoblock implant designed to fuse a cervical motion segment by spanning across uncinate joints, allowing for stabilization while preserving intervertebral disc integrity, using a method that involves inserting the implant between superior and inferior vertebral bodies from an anterior approach, with wings extending into the uncinate joints to provide stability and potentially incorporating bone graft material for fusion promotion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional spinal fusion methods are used to treat uncinate joint and intervertebral disc afflictions, then stabilization is achieved, but neurological issues, pain, and loss of spinal mobility occur
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into distinct functional segments: a body portion for intervertebral disc placement and wing portions for uncinate joint engagement. This segmentation allows each component to address specific pathology while preserving overall spinal function and mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant features localized structural adaptations including curved wing portions that conform to the specific geometry of uncinate joints and a body portion designed to match the intervertebral disc space. This local quality customization enables precise stabilization without compromising surrounding neural structures.
2Reliability
If invasive traditional fusion methods are applied, then fusion is achieved, but intervertebral disc health and spinal mobility are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The implant design incorporates flexible elements that allow dynamic adaptation to spinal movements. The curved wing portions can flex to accommodate uncinate joint motion while maintaining engagement, and the body portion can adapt to intervertebral disc compression and expansion cycles, preserving mobility while achieving fusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant extends into the uncinate joints from the intervertebral disc space, adding a lateral dimension to the fusion approach. This dimensional extension allows the implant to engage multiple structural elements (disc and uncinate joints) simultaneously without requiring invasive posterior approaches that compromise mobility.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If minimally invasive approaches are used to preserve spinal mobility, then neurological issues are reduced, but stabilization and fusion promotion are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The implant merges the functions of intervertebral disc replacement and uncinate joint stabilization into a single integrated device. The body portion addresses disc pathology while the wing portions simultaneously engage uncinate joints, providing comprehensive stabilization and fusion promotion through one minimally invasive procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant incorporates composite material structures combining rigid fixation elements with flexible, mobility-preserving components. This composite construction enables the implant to provide strong stabilization for fusion while maintaining the flexibility needed to preserve spinal mobility and reduce neurological compression.
Data Source
AI summary
A monoblock implant for fusing a cervical motion segment includes (a) an interbody portion configured to be positioned between superior and inferior vertebral bodies, of the cervical motion segment, with a first side of the interbody portion facing a first uncinate joint of the cervical motion segment and a second side of the interbody portion facing a second uncinate joint of the cervical motion segment, (b) a first wing extending away from the first side to extend into the first uncinate joint, and (c) a second wing extending away from the second side to extend into the second uncinate joint.