Monopedicular Spine Targeting for Precise Minimally Invasive Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional open spine surgery involves large incisions and significant blood loss, while minimally invasive procedures using multiple pedicle anchoring systems can be cumbersome and less effective for precise spinal surgery access.
Innovation Solution
A monopedicular targeting system for posterior spinal surgery that anchors to a single pedicle, providing six degrees of freedom for precise placement and orientation of spinal surgery devices, allowing for minimally invasive access with reduced trauma and faster recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple pedicle anchoring systems are used for minimally invasive surgery, then surgical access is achieved with smaller incisions, but the hardware becomes cumbersome and less effective for precise targeting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple anchoring functions into a single pedicle screw system. The single pedicle screw integrates the anchoring, positioning, and device-holding functions that were previously distributed across multiple separate anchoring devices, thereby reducing hardware bulk while maintaining minimally invasive benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The single pedicle screw is designed as a multi-functional component that serves as both an anchoring device and a positioning mechanism. It can hold various spinal surgery devices (retractors, drills, osteotomes, etc.) and provides six degrees of freedom for precise positioning, eliminating the need for separate anchoring and positioning systems
2Reliability
If conventional open spine surgery is performed with large incisions, then stable access to spinal segments is achieved, but blood loss and recovery time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The single pedicle screw system incorporates six degrees of freedom that allow dynamic adjustment of the held device's position and orientation. This dynamic positioning capability enables stable access to spinal segments without requiring large incisions, as the device can be precisely positioned through the smaller incision and then stabilized in the optimal position
3Loss of substance
If minimally invasive surgery with small incisions is performed, then blood loss and recovery time are reduced, but precise targeting and stability against patient movement become challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The single pedicle screw acts as an intermediary anchor point within the spine that provides a stable reference for positioning surgical devices. By anchoring to the pedicle (a strong bony structure), the system achieves stable targeting that is resistant to patient movement, while the holding device can be precisely positioned through the small incision using the six degrees of freedom
Data Source
AI summary
A monopedicular targeting system for posterior spinal surgery includes a first joint component, a fastener for affixing the first joint component to a single pedicle, a positioning arm having a second joint component for mating with the first joint component to form a first joint having three rotational degrees of freedom, and a connector for coupling the spinal surgery device to the positioning arm. The connector has a third joint component that mates with a fourth joint component of a spinal surgery device to form a second joint having three rotational degrees of freedom. A monopedicular targeting method for posterior spinal surgery includes affixing a fastener to a single pedicle and adjusting three translational degrees of freedom and three rotational degrees of freedom of a posterior spinal surgery device with respect to a pedicle of a vertebra by manipulating joints of a manipulator connecting the spinal surgery device to the fastener.