Nested Spinal Compressor Fulcrum for Minimally Invasive Vertebral Manipulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The difficulty in maneuvering, maintaining, and positioning orthopedic devices along the spinal column during minimally invasive surgical procedures is increased due to the limited space and complexity of instruments, which hinders the ability to compress or distract vertebrae effectively.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a compressor and a fulcrum, which are mountable to vertebrae and configured to nest with each other, providing a mechanical advantage to deliver compression or distraction forces through a nested configuration, allowing for precise manipulation and alignment while minimizing the footprint of the instruments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional orthopedic devices and instruments are used for spinal procedures, then stabilization and support are achieved, but the complexity and size of instruments increase the difficulty of maneuvering and positioning during minimally invasive procedures

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestabilizationVSAvoidinstrument complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The compressor device is designed with a nested configuration where the compressor body receives the fulcrum shaft, creating a compact assembly that reduces the overall footprint of the instrumentation while maintaining full functional capability for vertebral compression and stabilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If traditional compression and distraction instruments are used, then vertebrae manipulation is achieved, but the footprint and complexity of instruments hinder effective compression or distraction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertebrae manipulationVSAvoidinstrument footprint

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The fulcrum shaft is received within the compressor body in a nested arrangement, significantly reducing the lateral footprint of the instrumentation while preserving the mechanical advantage and leverage needed for effective vertebral compression and distraction maneuvers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The device is divided into distinct functional segments - the compressor body for applying compression forces and the fulcrum for providing leverage - that can be independently positioned and assembled through the surgical site, allowing for simplified manipulation and reduced overall footprint

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-affected harmful factors

If minimally invasive approach is maintained, then surgical invasiveness is reduced, but the decrease in space available at the surgical site increases the difficulty of handling and manipulating devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical invasivenessVSAvoiddevice handling

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The nested configuration of the compressor and fulcrum creates a compact assembly that can be delivered through minimally invasive approaches while providing sufficient space for manipulation and positioning at the surgical site, effectively resolving the space constraint issue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables effective compression or distraction of vertebrae with a low profile footprint, facilitating minimally invasive procedures and maintaining the alignment of instruments, thereby improving the precision and efficiency of orthopedic device placement and stabilization.

Implementation Method 1

configured to nest with each other, providing a mechanical advantage to deliver compression or distraction forces

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentUS7686814B2Systems and methods for compressing and distracting vertebrae of the spinal column

Publication Date: 2010.03.30 WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC INC

AI summary

Spinal surgical systems include a compressor mountable to a first vertebra and positionable relative to a fulcrum mountable to a second vertebra. The compressor and fulcrum are manipulated relative to one another to compress the first and second vertebrae. The systems further include a distractor mountable to a first vertebra and positionable relative to a fulcrum mountable to a second vertebra. The distractor and fulcrum are manipulated relative to one another to distract the first and second vertebrae.