Rod Connector with Adjustable Support for Spinal Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal fixation devices require complex and invasive procedures for connecting new rods to existing ones, leading to increased surgical burdens for patients due to the need for accurate rod arrangement and significant tissue disruption.
Innovation Solution
A rod connector utilizing internal screw fixation with a latch element, support element, and fixing screw that allows for easy connection of existing and new rods without removing surrounding tissue, featuring a latch section, pass-through section, and adjustable support mechanism to simplify surgery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a connector is fitted to an existing rod and a new rod is connected to another hole of the connector, then rod connection is enabled, but accurate 11-shaped arrangement of the rods is required which places limitations on the positional relationship between the rods
Solution Approach 1:
The connector allows dynamic adjustment of the support element's position along the rod length through the through-hole, enabling the device to adapt to various rod positions and orientations rather than requiring fixed predetermined arrangements
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is divided into functional sections (latch section for securing to existing rod, support element for holding new rod, through-hole for positioning) that can operate independently, allowing flexible configuration without requiring overall structural constraints
2Adaptability or versatility
If the surrounding area of the rod is sufficiently removed to connect rods, then rod connection is possible, but surgery becomes more difficult and imposes many burdens on the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The new rod is effectively nested onto the existing rod through the connector structure, with the support element receiving the new rod within the connector body, eliminating the need to remove surrounding tissue for rod attachment
Solution Approach 2:
The connector acts as an intermediary device between the existing rod and the new rod, providing a connection interface that does not require direct exposure or removal of surrounding bone and tissue
3Ease of operation
If internal screw fixation is used to connect different rods, then easy connection is achieved, but the device structure becomes more complex with multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions (latch mechanism, support structure, positioning system, and fixation interface) are merged into a single integrated connector body, reducing the number of separate components and assembly steps despite the complex internal functionality
Data Source
AI summary
A rod connector used in screw fixation to connect different rods includes a latch element including a latch section which is fitted to a first rod and a pass-through section having a through-hole, a support element including an up/down movement section which moves up and down through the through-hole and a support section which is a head part of the up/down movement section and has a support groove to support a second rod, and a fixing screw which approaches the up/down movement section through a screw hole formed in oblique direction within the latch element and presses the up/down movement section directly or indirectly, to fix the support element at a predetermined height.