Pre-bent Spinal Rod for Minimally Invasive Curvature Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical methods for correcting spinal disorders, such as scoliosis and kyphosis, often require invasive procedures and may not effectively maintain spinal curvature, leading to complications like flatback syndrome and nerve damage.
Innovation Solution
A spinal correction system and method involving the use of multi-axial pedicle screws and a longitudinal spinal rod, which is bent and positioned to match the desired curvature, allowing for minimally invasive placement and alignment of vertebrae without dissecting the fascia, using instruments like rod grippers and extenders to maintain the rod's shape and position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional surgical methods are used to correct spinal disorders, then spinal curvature can be corrected, but invasive procedures are required and complications like flatback syndrome and nerve damage may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The rod is pre-bent to the desired curvature configuration before implantation. This preliminary shaping allows the rod to be inserted through minimally invasive percutaneous access and then deployed to immediately establish the correct spinal alignment, eliminating the need for extensive dissection and reducing surgical trauma
Solution Approach 2:
A percutaneous extender device serves as an intermediary tool to facilitate rod insertion and positioning. The extender allows the pre-bent rod to be advanced through small incisions and properly positioned along the pedicle screws without requiring large surgical exposures, thereby reducing invasiveness while maintaining correction effectiveness
2Stability of the object's composition
If a longitudinal rod is used to maintain spinal curvature, then curvature can be preserved, but the rod may need to be dissected through fascia which increases invasiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The rod is pre-shaped to match the desired spinal curvature configuration before insertion. This preliminary configuration allows the rod to be introduced percutaneously through small incisions without needing to dissect through the fascia, as the rod is already in its final functional shape and can be directly positioned along the pedicle screws
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional mechanical approach of inserting a straight rod and then bending it in place (requiring fascia dissection) is replaced by pre-bending the rod to the desired configuration before insertion. This substitution allows minimally invasive percutaneous placement while maintaining the rod's ability to preserve spinal curvature
3Object-affected harmful factors
If minimally invasive techniques are used, then invasiveness is reduced, but precise curvature matching and rod positioning become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The rod is pre-bent to the exact desired curvature configuration before implantation, based on preoperative planning and imaging. This preliminary precision shaping ensures that when the rod is inserted percutaneously, it already matches the target spinal alignment, eliminating the need for complex intraoperative bending adjustments that would be difficult to perform through small incisions
Solution Approach 2:
The percutaneous extender acts as an intermediary device that facilitates precise rod positioning through minimally invasive access. The extender provides a controlled environment for advancing and positioning the pre-bent rod along the pedicle screws, ensuring accurate placement while maintaining small incision sizes and minimizing soft tissue disruption
Data Source
AI summary
A method for treating a spine, comprises the steps of fastening a first fastener to a first portion of vertebrae, a second fastener to a second portion of vertebra, and a third fastener to a third portion of vertebrae, wherein the second portion of vertebra is between the first and third vertebra; providing a longitudinal element having a first portion and a second portion; passing the first portion of the longitudinal element through the second and third fasteners such that the second portion of the longitudinal element extends from the second fastener through the third fastener; bending the first portion of the longitudinal element to a selected curvature; and moving the second portion of the longitudinal element through the second fastener to the first fastener after the first portion of the longitudinal element has been passed through the second and third fasteners. Systems and instruments are disclosed.