Tubular Pedicle Marker for Obstruction-Free K-Wire Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The presence of multiple dangling Kirschner-wires during spinal surgery obstructs surgeons, limiting their motion and hindering actions such as decompression, spinal release, and interbody cage placement, due to the need for multiple pedicle screws in vertebrae.
Innovation Solution
A pedicle marker with an elongated tubular body and a plug that encloses it, allowing marked and distinguished passages for spinal screws without obstruction, enabling K-wire insertion and removal without bending, and facilitating vertebra displacement for spine cage insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple Kirschner-wires are used to mark passages for spinal screws, then the location of passages can be marked and distinguished, but the surgeon's range of motion and movements are limited and obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The Kirschner-wire is nested inside the pedicle marker tubular body, with the proximal end of the K-wire received by the proximal end of the tubular body and the distal end of the K-wire exiting through the distal end of the tubular body. This nesting configuration allows the K-wire to be contained within the marker structure, eliminating dangling wires while maintaining passage marking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pedicle marker tubular body acts as an intermediary structure between the Kirschner-wire and the external environment. It provides a protective sheath that contains the K-wire, preventing it from swinging freely while still allowing the wire to perform its guiding function through the tubular body's passage.
2Measurement precision
If multiple Kirschner-wires extend outwards from the patient's spine, then passages can be marked in multiple vertebrae, but the space required for surgical work is filled and other actions are hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The Kirschner-wire is nested within the pedicle marker tubular body, significantly reducing the external space occupied by the wire assembly. The tubular body confines the wire, preventing it from extending outward and filling surgical space, while still maintaining the marking function for multiple vertebrae.
Solution Approach 2:
The pedicle marker uses a thin-walled tubular body that provides structural containment for the K-wire while occupying minimal space. The thin-walled structure allows the marker to be compact yet sufficiently rigid to maintain passage marking accuracy across multiple vertebrae.
3Reliability
If K-wires are used to guide spinal screws, then screw insertion can be guided accurately, but the K-wires are free to swing around causing obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The pedicle marker tubular body serves as an intermediary structure that stabilizes the Kirschner-wire during screw insertion. The tubular body constrains the wire's movement, preventing swinging while still allowing the wire to accurately guide the spinal screw through its passage.
Solution Approach 2:
The K-wire is nested within the protective tubular body, which provides structural support and stabilization. This nesting configuration ensures the wire remains positioned correctly for accurate screw guidance while preventing the wire from moving freely and causing obstruction.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention concerns a pedicle marker (1) including an elongated tubular body (3) comprising a proximal end (5) for receiving a guide-wire (GW) and a distal end (7) through which the Kirschner-wire can exit, wherein the elongated tubular body extends from the proximal end to the distal end; and a plug (9) enclosing the elongated tubular body, the plug being located between the proximal end and the distal end. The elongated tubular body includes a non-threaded external surface extending at least from the plug to the distal end.