Posterior SI Joint Prosthesis Placement Through a Pilot Channel
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional SI joint stabilization methods, both open and minimally-invasive, suffer from disadvantages such as extensive tissue damage, increased risk of complications, difficulty in performance, prosthesis displacement, and structural inferiority leading to misalignment and immune responses, making them ineffective for stabilizing dysfunctional sacroiliac joints.
Innovation Solution
A minimally-invasive method using a tool assembly with an elongated guide probe and defect creation assembly to create a pilot SI joint opening, followed by insertion of a prosthesis with a posterior approach, which includes a biologically active coating to facilitate secure engagement and tissue remodeling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional open surgery methods are used for SI joint stabilization, then prosthesis placement is achieved, but extensive tissue damage and increased operative time occur
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical approach is segmented into two distinct stages: (1) creation of a minimal incision and insertion of a guide probe through the posterior sacroiliac ligament to establish a pilot channel, and (2) delivery of the prosthesis through this pre-established channel. This segmentation allows the prosthesis to be inserted through a small opening rather than requiring extensive soft tissue dissection, thereby reducing tissue damage while maintaining placement stability.
Solution Approach 2:
A guide probe serves as an intermediary tool that is first inserted through the minimal incision to create a pilot channel, and then serves as a guide for delivering the prosthesis. This intermediary device enables prosthesis placement through a small opening without requiring direct visualization or extensive tissue manipulation, thus reducing tissue damage while ensuring accurate prosthesis positioning.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional minimally-invasive methods are used, then tissue damage is reduced, but prosthesis displacement and structural inferiority occur
Solution Approach 1:
A guide probe is inserted first to create a pilot channel that precisely defines the prosthesis insertion pathway and engagement site. This preliminary action ensures that when the prosthesis is delivered through the same channel, it will be accurately positioned and securely engaged with the sacrum and ilium, preventing displacement while maintaining the minimally-invasive approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The conventional mechanical approach of making a large incision and directly visualizing the SI joint is replaced with a posterior approach through the sacroiliac ligament using a guide probe and pilot channel system. This substitution maintains secure prosthesis engagement while significantly reducing soft tissue damage and eliminating the need for extensive anatomical dissection.
3Ease of operation
If standard surgical approaches are used, then SI joint access is achieved, but muscles and nerves are disrupted or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of approaching the SI joint from the front or side where muscles and nerves are abundant, the method inverts the approach by entering through the posterior sacroiliac ligament. This reverse approach allows access to the SI joint through a naturally located, less vulnerable structure, thereby avoiding disruption of important muscles and nerves while maintaining ease of surgical access.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide probe acts as an intermediary that navigates through the posterior sacroiliac ligament to create a pilot channel, serving as a safe pathway for prosthesis delivery. This intermediary approach allows surgical access to the SI joint through a protected route that avoids direct injury to surrounding muscles and nerves, while still enabling effective joint stabilization.
Data Source
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 defect creation assembly is advanced from a posterior approach into the SI joint and configured to create 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 prosthesis is press-fit into the pilot SI joint opening, wherein the pilot SI joint opening transitions to a larger post-prosthesis insertion SI joint opening and the prosthesis is securely engaged to the sacrum and ilium bone structures.