Percutaneous Measurement Instrument for Inter-Bone Spacing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical procedures for measuring inter-bone spaces require open surgical approaches, leading to longer healing times and increased risks of injury and infection due to the need for trial and error with multiple spacers.

Innovation Solution

A minimally-invasive medical device with a tapered projection and measurement member, allowing percutaneous insertion between adjacent anatomical structures, featuring a size indicator with markings or expandable components to accurately measure distances between bones without distracting them, facilitating precise selection of appropriate implants or spacers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If open surgical approach is used to measure inter-bone spaces with trial spacers, then measurement accuracy is improved, but healing time increases and risk of injury and infection increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidrisk of injury and infection

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a measurement device that acts as an intermediary tool, allowing distance measurement between bones through percutaneous insertion rather than open surgical exposure. The device includes a projection that can be inserted through tissue and a measurement member with markings that indicate distances when positioned between adjacent bones, enabling accurate measurement without requiring open surgical approach

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical open surgical approach with a minimally invasive percutaneous measurement system. Instead of requiring large incisions and direct visual access to bones, the device uses a needle-like projection with integrated measurement markings that can be inserted through small punctures, substituting the complex mechanical open surgical system with a simpler percutaneous insertion system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If open surgical approach is used to measure inter-bone spaces, then measurement capability is improved, but procedure time and healing duration increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement capabilityVSAvoidhealing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement device serves as an intermediary that enables distance measurement through percutaneous access. The projection is inserted through tissue and the measurement member with scale markings allows determination of bone-to-bone distances without requiring prolonged open surgical exposure, thus maintaining measurement capability while reducing procedure and healing time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The measurement device is segmented into distinct functional components: a projection for percutaneous insertion and a measurement member with markings for distance indication. This segmentation allows the measurement function to be performed through a minimally invasive approach, separating the measurement capability from the need for open surgical exposure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple trial spacers are tested in open surgery, then correct size selection is ensured, but device complexity and procedure steps increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorrect size selectionVSAvoidprocedure steps

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement device combines multiple functions into a single instrument: it serves both as a measurement tool with scale markings for determining distances and as a sizing guide for selecting appropriate implant or spacer sizes. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple separate trial spacers and simplifies the procedure steps while ensuring correct size selection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7497024B2Measurement instrument for percutaneous surgery

Publication Date: 2009.03.03 MEDTRONIC SPINE LLC

AI summary

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a projection having a tapered end portion configured to be inserted percutaneously through tissue. A measurement member is coupled to the projection and is configured to indicate a distance between adjacent anatomical structures. In another embodiment, an apparatus includes a measurement member configured to be percutaneously inserted between adjacent anatomical structures. The measurement member includes a wedge portion that is configured to contact the adjacent anatomical structures when the measurement member is moved distally between the adjacent anatomical structures. A size indicator is coupled to the wedge portion. The size indicator has a plurality of markings and is configured to be viewed on an image of the adjacent anatomical structures with the wedge portion of the measurement member disposed between the adjacent anatomical structures to indicate a distance between the adjacent anatomical structures.