Percutaneous Epidural Decompression via Segmented Lamina Fragmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical practices for spinal stenosis and foraminal stenosis lack effective minimally invasive options, leading to limited pain relief and increased risks associated with general anesthesia in surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
The T-technique employs percutaneous methods using a wire tool passed through epidural needles to decompress the spinal canal and neuroforamen, allowing for minimally invasive laminoplasty and foraminoplasty under local anesthesia, reducing tissue damage and avoiding complications from general anesthesia.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If open surgery is performed to treat spinal stenosis, then decompression of the spinal canal can be achieved, but the patient experiences significant tissue damage, requires general anesthesia, and has longer recovery time
Solution Approach 1:
The procedure divides the decompression task into two separate percutaneous approaches: one needle accesses the epidural space above the target lamina while another accesses the space below, allowing the cutting instrument to segment the lamina into multiple small pieces rather than removing large sections of bone
Solution Approach 2:
A specialized cutting instrument with a curved cutting edge acts as an intermediary tool that can be inserted through the epidural space and selectively cut the lamina into small fragments, which are then naturally extruded without requiring large incisions or general anesthesia
2Object-affected harmful factors
If minimally invasive percutaneous procedures are used, then tissue damage is reduced and recovery is faster, but effective decompression of the spinal canal has not been achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The procedure replaces the traditional mechanical open surgical approach with a percutaneous technique using a specialized cutting instrument that can be guided through narrow epidural needle paths to achieve precise lamina fragmentation and decompression without large incisions
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting instrument is designed with specific geometric parameters including a curved cutting edge at a 45-degree angle to the longitudinal axis, allowing it to effectively fragment bone tissue through rotational motion while being inserted through a narrow percutaneous path
3Ease of operation
If general anesthesia is administered for spinal surgery, then the patient can tolerate the procedure, but the risk of complications increases and recovery time extends
Solution Approach 1:
The patient's own respiratory and cardiovascular systems continue to function naturally during the procedure without the need for general anesthesia, allowing the patient to maintain normal physiological function while tolerating the percutaneous decompression procedure
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus and methods for enhanced percutaneous epidural access for performing spine surgery, epidural procedures and medical device placement that includes a first percutaneous needle having a first lumen, a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is configured for placement in an epidural space at a first location, the first location being at least one level removed from a target lamina, a second percutaneous needle having a second lumen, a proximal end and a distal end.