Roller Locking Mechanism for Spinal Implant Tether
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal implants for treating discogenic pain and related conditions are invasive, irreversible, and prone to mechanical failure due to uneven force distribution and complex assembly processes, leading to increased surgical risk and morbidity.
Innovation Solution
A surgical fastening mechanism featuring a housing with a roller element and locking mechanism that creates a tortuous path for the tether, providing frictional retention without deformation, and allowing for adjustable tension and easy deployment, reducing the complexity and invasiveness of spinal implant procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a traditional spinal implant with rigid fixation is used, then spinal stability is improved, but surgical invasiveness and irreversibility increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic fastening mechanism with a roller element that can be rotated to adjust tether tension, allowing the implant to adapt to spinal motion rather than rigidly restricting it. The roller can be rotated clockwise to tighten the tether for increased stability, or counter-clockwise to relax for reduced constraint, providing dynamic control during surgical procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables parameter changes in tether tension through the roller rotation mechanism. By rotating the roller element, the surgeon can adjust the tension parameter of the tether in real-time during surgery, allowing optimization of the balance between spinal stability and preservation of natural motion without requiring multiple surgical interventions.
2Reliability
If a complex fastening mechanism is used to secure the tether, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening mechanism is designed to be self-locking through the roller rotation system. When the roller is rotated to the locked position, the tether is automatically secured without requiring additional locking components or complex assembly steps. The mechanism serves itself by using the roller's position to both adjust and secure the tether tension.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary intermediate components from traditional multi-step fastening systems. The roller element directly engages with the tether and housing, removing the need for separate locking nuts, bolts, or clips that would increase complexity. This streamlined design achieves reliable securing with minimal parts.
3Stability of the object's composition
If high tension is applied to the tether to restrict flexion, then spinal segment motion control is improved, but force distribution uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the tether engagement at specific points through the roller mechanism rather than distributing force uniformly along the entire tether. The roller creates localized contact points where the tether winds around the roller element and engages with the housing, allowing high tension to be applied at these specific locations while maintaining uniform force distribution through the roller's rotation and the resulting tortuous path configuration.
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 mechanism enables less invasive, reversible, and reliable securing of spinal implants, reducing surgical complexity and risk while maintaining effective pain relief by controlling spinal segment motion and distributing forces evenly.
Implementation Method 1
The rotation of the roller element in a first direction winds the tether therearound, thereby creating a tortuous or serpentine path in the tether, which generates friction between the roller element, the housing and the tether
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical fastening mechanism for releasably locking an implantable tether includes a housing having a central channel. The housing has an entry aperture, an exit aperture and a side channel extending therebetween. A roller element has a sidewall with an aperture therethrough and the roller is slidably disposed at least partially in the central channel such that the entry and exit apertures are at least partially aligned with the roller aperture. This permits passage of the tether therethrough. Rotation of the roller element in a first direction winds the tether around the roller thereby creating a friction interface between the roller element, the housing and the tether. A locking mechanism is operably connected with either the housing or the roller element and is adapted to prevent rotation of the roller in the central channel and also adapted to prevent release of the tether from the roller.