Movable Coupling Elements for Multi-Size Spinal Implant Removal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instruments for removing intervertebral implants are limited to handling implants of the same construction and size, making them ineffective for diverse implant sizes and shapes.
Innovation Solution
The surgical instrument features movable first and second coupling elements that can adjust their spacing along the instrument's longitudinal axis, allowing for engagement with various implant sizes and shapes, and includes a handle for secure operation, with additional features like axial stops and clamping surfaces for secure locking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the coupling part has fixed coupling elements, then the instrument can securely hold one specific implant size, but it cannot remove implants of different sizes and shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling elements are designed to be movable relative to each other along the longitudinal axis, allowing the spacing between them to be adjusted. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the instrument to adapt to different implant sizes and shapes while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the coupling elements are made movable to adjust spacing, then different implant sizes can be accommodated, but the secure locking capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling part is divided into multiple independent coupling elements that can move relative to each other. This segmentation allows each element to be positioned independently to match the specific implant geometry while maintaining secure engagement through the locking mechanism, thus preserving reliability while achieving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacing parameter between coupling elements can be changed to match different implant sizes. The locking mechanism ensures that once the spacing is adjusted and the coupling elements engage with the implant, secure holding is achieved. The parameter change is temporary during adjustment and then fixed during the locking phase, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple coupling elements are provided for different implant sizes, then versatility is improved, but the number of instrument components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is designed with movable coupling elements that can be adjusted to accommodate multiple implant types and sizes using a single instrument design. This multi-functionality approach allows one instrument to perform the function of what would otherwise require multiple specialized instruments, reducing the total number of components and improving versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
In order to improve a surgical instrument for removing an intervertebral implant from an intervertebral space of a human or animal spinal column, comprising a coupling part arranged at the distal end of the instrument for placement on the intervertebral implant in a placement position, the coupling part being able to be brought from the placement position into a coupling position in which the intervertebral implant is held with force locking and/or positive locking on the coupling part, the coupling part comprising at least one first coupling element and at least one second coupling element, which are engageable with the intervertebral implant in the coupling position, so that it may also be used for removing different intervertebral implants of different sizes and shapes, it is proposed that the at least one first coupling element and the at least one second coupling element be arranged so as to be movable relative to each other in such a way that a spacing between the at least one first coupling element and the at least one second coupling element in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis defined by the instrument is alterable for transferring the instrument from the placement position to the coupling position and/or vice versa.