Polymeric Vertebral Retaining Devices for Spinal Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal surgery instruments, particularly for retaining vertebral bodies during procedures like spinal fixation and prosthetic disc implantation, are often made of expensive materials like stainless steel and titanium, which are burdensome to store and sterilize due to their high cost and durability, necessitating the development of more cost-effective and disposable solutions.
Innovation Solution
The use of polymer-based retaining devices with a monolithic design, featuring pivotable bodies and a locking assembly, allowing for distraction and retention of vertebral bodies, which can be manufactured through injection molding or 3D printing, providing sufficient strength and rigidity for spinal surgeries while being more economical and suitable for single-use applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If polymer-based retaining devices are used, then manufacturing cost and ease of manufacture are improved, but device strength and rigidity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by combining polymer body material with metal reinforcement elements (such as metal inserts or alloy components) within the retaining device structure. This allows the device to achieve both the manufacturing advantages of polymers (cost-effectiveness, ease of molding) and the mechanical strength required for spinal surgery applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by selecting specific polymer materials with optimized physical properties (such as adjusted crystallinity, cross-linking density, or composite filler content) to achieve the required balance between manufacturability and mechanical performance. The polymer composition and structural parameters are carefully controlled to ensure sufficient strength while maintaining ease of injection molding.
2Reliability
If expensive metallic materials like stainless steel and titanium are used, then device strength and reliability are improved, but storage and sterilization burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements the disposable approach by designing retaining devices that can be manufactured cost-effectively from polymer materials, eliminating the need for expensive metallic instruments. These single-use devices reduce storage and sterilization burdens while maintaining adequate reliability for the surgical procedure, after which they are disposed of and replaced.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating precise polymer reproductions of the functional elements traditionally made from metal. Through injection molding or 3D printing, the device replicates the necessary structural features and mechanical functions of metallic instruments, providing sufficient reliability without the burden of maintaining expensive equipment.
3Ease of manufacture
If monolithic polymer design is used, then manufacturing simplicity and cost are improved, but structural complexity may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by integrating multiple functional components into a single monolithic polymer structure. The retaining device combines the handle, jaw, locking mechanism, and vertebral engagement features into one piece manufactured through injection molding or 3D printing, eliminating assembly steps and reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining necessary structural functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Vertebral retaining devices and instruments are provided. A retaining device may include a first monolithic body having a first handle and first jaw pivotably coupled to a second monolithic body having a second handle and a second jaw. The first body and the second body may be pivotably coupled to one another at an intermediate region between the respective handles and jaws. In some aspects, the first and second bodies may be polymeric. The first jaw and second jaw may be shaped to provide an access region between the first jaw and the second jaw when the retaining device is coupled to bone fasteners attached to the vertebrae. The retaining device may include a locking assembly coupled to the first handle and the second handle, and configured to retain the first jaw and the second jaw in a spaced relationship relative to one another.