Retractor Blade Attachment to Spherical Bone Anchor
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Solution Overview
Problem
In spinal surgery, particularly in minimally invasive procedures, existing instruments face challenges in securely attaching and handling distraction and retraction tools due to limited visibility and space, leading to difficulties in maintaining instrument attachment during surgical steps.
Innovation Solution
A retractor blade instrument designed to attach securely to spherically-shaped bone anchors, featuring a mechanism with spring-assisted attachment and adjustable angles, allowing for easy placement and secure fixation, even in restricted surgical environments, and enabling effective tissue retraction and distraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a polyaxial receiving part is connected to the bone anchor, then the instrument can be attached to the bone anchor, but the visibility at the surgical site is reduced and handling becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is divided into separate functional components: a retractor blade for tissue retraction, a bone anchor for bone fixation, and a receiving part for connecting to the rod. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the bone anchor can protrude for visibility while the receiving part provides secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The bone anchor head is designed to protrude from the bone in a direction away from the surgical site, utilizing spatial dimensionality to improve visibility. The receiving part is positioned to allow attachment while maintaining this protruding configuration, solving the visibility problem without compromising attachment security.
2Reliability
If the retractor blade is made attachable to the bone anchor head, then secure attachment is achieved, but the instrument becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving part is integrated into the bone anchor head structure, merging the attachment function with the existing bone anchor design. This integration avoids adding separate complex attachment mechanisms while still achieving secure connection to the rod through the integrated receiving part.
3Ease of operation
If the bone anchor head is made spherically-shaped and protruding, then visibility is improved, but the attachment mechanism becomes more difficult to design
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical bone anchor head serves multiple functions: it provides a protruding structure for improved visibility, acts as the attachment point for the retractor blade, and includes the receiving part for rod connection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The instrument ensures safe and secure attachment of retractor blades to bone anchors, improving visibility and facilitating surgical procedures by allowing for precise control and adjustment, suitable for both minimally invasive and open surgeries.
Implementation Method 1
The end portion (13) comprises a spring portion (8) that extends into the recess (20) and that serves for pushing the head (102) into the second opening section (16b)
Data Source
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AI summary
An instrument for attaching to a bone anchor, more sprecifically aretractor blade (10, 10') for attaching to a bone anchor is provided, in particular for orthopedic or neuro surgery, more specifically for spinal surgery, comprising a blade portion (1, 1',) and an end portion (13) for connecting to a head (102) of a bone anchoring element (100, 100'), wherein the end portion (13) is configured to accommodate at least a portion of the head (102) of the bone anchoring element (100, 100') and comprises a first section (14a) configured to permit placement of the retractor blade (10, 10') onto and removal from the head (102) and that further comprises a second section (14b) that is configured to prevent removal of the retractor blade (10, 10') from the head (102). Furthermore, an instrument for distraction and/or retraction comprising such a retractor blade is provided.