Posterior SI Joint Prosthesis Placement With Minimal Tissue Damage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional SI joint stabilization methods, both open and minimally-invasive, suffer from significant disadvantages such as extensive tissue damage, increased risk of complications, difficulty in placement, and structural inadequacies of prostheses, leading to pain and failure.

Innovation Solution

A minimally-invasive method using a posterior approach with a tool assembly comprising a guide pin, drill guide, and prosthesis deployment system, allowing for precise placement of a SI joint prosthesis with image guidance, ensuring secure engagement and optimal structural properties, and inclusion of osteogenic agents for tissue remodeling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional open or minimally-invasive SI joint stabilization methods are used, then SI joint stabilization can be achieved, but extensive tissue damage and increased risk of complications occur

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSI joint stabilizationVSAvoidtissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical approach is segmented into a posterior route through the gluteal region rather than traditional anterior or lateral approaches. This segmentation allows access to the SI joint through a different anatomical pathway, reducing damage to anterior structures such as muscles and nerves while maintaining stabilization effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A prosthesis acts as an intermediary device to achieve SI joint stabilization. The prosthesis includes a medullary canal receiving a guide pin and an expansion portion that engages with the ilium, serving as a mediator between the surgical approach and the joint stabilization objective while minimizing direct tissue damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If conventional SI joint stabilization methods are used, then stabilization can be achieved, but difficulty in placement and structural inadequacies of prostheses occur

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSI joint stabilizationVSAvoidprosthesis placement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A guide pin is preliminarily inserted through the gluteal region into the SI joint to establish a precise trajectory and positioning reference. This preliminary action guides the subsequent prosthesis placement, ensuring accurate positioning and facilitating easier operation during the main surgical procedure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The prosthesis design incorporates a nested structure where a guide pin is received within a medullary canal, and an expansion portion extends from the prosthesis to engage with the ilium. This nested configuration allows for precise placement and secure stabilization while simplifying the surgical insertion process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS12472069B2Methods for sacroiliac joint stabilization

Publication Date: 2025.11.18 TENON MEDICAL INC

AI summary

Methods are described for conducting minimally invasive medical interventions utilizing instruments and assemblies thereof to stabilize and/or fixate a dysfunctional sacroiliac (SI) joint. In one embodiment, a drill assembly is advanced from a posterior approach into the SI joint to create a pilot SI joint opening; portions of which being disposed in the sacrum and ilium bone structures. After the pilot SI joint opening is created, a SI joint prosthesis is inserted into the pilot SI joint opening, wherein the SI joint prosthesis is positioned in the dysfunctional SI joint at a distance of at least 3.0 mm away from the SI joint dorsal recess.