Percutaneous Transverse Coupler for Minimally Invasive Spinal Rod Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transverse couplers for spinal fixation require invasive incision surgery, causing significant burden on patients.
Innovation Solution
A percutaneous transverse coupler system and surgical instruments, including a sizer, vertebra awl, soft-tissue awl, hook holder, and bar holder, are developed to allow for minimally invasive attachment of transverse couplers to pedicle screws and rods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a transverse coupler is attached using traditional surgical methods, then the coupling function is achieved, but the surgical invasiveness and patient burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transverse coupler system is divided into separate components: accepters attached to rods, and a crosslink with drilling end. This segmentation allows percutaneous insertion of individual components through the spinous process without requiring a single large incision, thereby reducing surgical invasiveness while maintaining coupling functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces specialized surgical instruments (awl, sizer, holder) as intermediaries to facilitate the percutaneous attachment process. These tools enable precise positioning and secure fixation of the transverse coupler components through small incisions, ensuring reliable coupling without the need for open surgery
2Object-affected harmful factors
If percutaneous attachment method is used, then patient trauma is reduced, but the complexity of the attachment procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The accepters are pre-attached to the rods before the percutaneous procedure. The sizer is used to pre-measure and mark the correct position on the spinous process. These preliminary actions simplify the actual percutaneous attachment by ensuring proper positioning and alignment are established beforehand, reducing the complexity of the minimally invasive portion of the procedure
Solution Approach 2:
Specialized instruments including an awl for creating pilot holes, a sizer for positioning, and holders for securing components serve as intermediaries that guide the attachment process. These tools provide mechanical advantage and precision control, making the percutaneous procedure more manageable despite the reduced incision size
Data Source
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AI summary
[Problem to be Solved] A traverse that is percutaneously provided and a surgical instrument for percutaneously providing the transverse are provided. [Solution] A rod 10 is placed in each of two rod openings 113, 123 and a transverse bar 130 is inserted in two bar holes 111, 121. Set screws 140, 150 are screwed in screw holes 114, 124. The set screws 140, 150 press the transverse bar 130, thereby restraining the transverse bar 130 in the longitudinal direction. Since portions of the bar holes 111, 121 adjoin the rod openings 113, 123, the pressed transverse bar 130 contacts the rods 10 and pushes the rods 10 against the rod openings 113, 123. A protrusion 127 engages with the rods 10 to restrain hooks 110, 120 in the longitudinal direction and circumferential direction of the rods 10.