Pivotable Spinal Insert for Minimally Invasive Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spinal implant insertion techniques are invasive, causing trauma to surrounding tissues and organs, and struggle to accurately place inserts between vertebrae without compressing nerves or damaging adjacent structures.
Innovation Solution
A pivotable spinal insert with a centrally located pivot post and curved end portions, used in conjunction with a surgical instrument that allows for minimally invasive insertion and placement via a non-linear path, enabling precise positioning and stabilization of the insert between vertebrae.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional surgical techniques are used to insert spinal implants, then the insert can be placed between vertebrae, but surrounding tissues and organs suffer trauma and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The insert is designed with a curved, non-linear insertion path that changes from a straight approach to an arced trajectory. The body portion has a curved cross-section that engages with guide surfaces in the vertebrae, guiding the insert through a non-linear path that avoids surrounding tissues and organs while achieving accurate placement between the vertebral bodies.
Solution Approach 2:
Guide surfaces are provided in the first and second vertebrae that act as intermediaries to receive and guide the curved body portion of the insert. These guide surfaces facilitate the non-linear insertion path by providing mechanical guidance, ensuring the insert follows the correct trajectory and achieves proper positioning without direct manual manipulation that could cause tissue damage.
2Productivity
If direct insertion methods are used, then the insert can be placed quickly, but accurate positioning without nerve compression is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The insert is pre-shaped with a curved body portion that matches the desired non-linear insertion path before the procedure begins. The guide surfaces are pre-formed in the vertebrae to receive this curved geometry, allowing the insert to self-guide along the correct trajectory without requiring complex intraoperative adjustments or slow manual positioning, thus maintaining both speed and accuracy.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If minimally invasive techniques are used, then tissue damage is reduced, but the complexity of the insertion instrument and procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insert's curved body portion and the guide surfaces work together as a self-guiding system. The geometry of the insert body naturally engages with the guide surfaces, causing the insert to self-align and self-guide along the non-linear path without requiring complex external instrumentation or multiple adjustment steps. This reduces instrument complexity while maintaining minimally invasive benefits.
Data Source
AI summary
An intervertebral insert member and an instrument for positioning the insert in a space between vertebral bodies in vivo. The insert member is advanced by the instrument into a prepared site located between adjacent vertebral bodies. Upon reaching the appropriate insertion point the sleeve is retracted and a pivotal motion is imparted to the insert. The insert member is pivotally attached to the distal end of the delivery instrument such that it can be articulated about a pivot point that is located on the insert member until it is properly positioned. The positioning instrument is then released from the insert member and removed from the space between the vertebral bodies.