Pedicle Screw Tower Traversal for Secure Compression and Distraction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical instruments for applying compression and distraction forces to anatomical structures, such as pedicle screws, often suffer from accidental detachment and lack of efficient attachment mechanisms, complicating surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with towers that snap onto pedicle screws for secure attachment and require a removal tool for detachment, featuring longitudinal tracks for arm traversal and locking mechanisms to prevent accidental disengagement, along with adjustable angling and accessory attachment options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional attachment mechanisms are used, then the instrument can be attached to pedicle screws, but accidental detachment occurs and reliability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism is divided into separate functional components: a tower structure with longitudinal tracks for arm traversal, and a snap-fit connection system with locking features. This segmentation allows the attachment function to be separated from the force application function, improving reliability while maintaining manageable complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The tower is pre-configured with longitudinal tracks and locking mechanisms before attachment. The snap-fit connection is designed to engage automatically when the tower is positioned on the pedicle screw, preventing accidental detachment without requiring additional complex locking steps during surgery
2Ease of operation
If simple snap-on attachment is used, then ease of operation is improved, but accidental detachment may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The tower structure incorporates nested functional elements: the snap-fit connection is integrated within the tower body, and the longitudinal tracks are embedded in the tower structure. This nesting allows multiple functions (attachment, arm traversal, locking) to be combined in a compact form that remains easy to operate while ensuring secure attachment
Solution Approach 2:
The tower acts as an intermediary component between the pedicle screw and the compression/distraction arms. It provides a stable interface with longitudinal tracks that guide arm movement and prevent lateral displacement, thereby securing the attachment while maintaining ease of operation through the snap-fit design
3Manufacturing precision
If longitudinal tracks are added for arm traversal, then positioning precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The longitudinal tracks are designed to self-guide the arms during traversal along the tower. The track geometry inherently provides positioning precision without requiring additional active control mechanisms or complex adjustment systems, thereby improving positioning precision while limiting the increase in device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument includes a rack, a first arm coupled to the rack, a second arm coupled to the rack, a first tower coupled to the first arm, and a second tower coupled to the second arm. The first tower comprises an upper end, a lower end, and a track between the upper end and the lower end. A channel of the first arm is configured to receive the track of the first tower and selectively position the first arm along the track of the first tower. The lower end of the first tower is configured to snap onto a pedicle screw and to disengage from the pedicle screw in response to a removal tool being inserted into the first tower.