Segmented Spinal Drilling Mask for Pedicle Screw Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drilling masks for transpedicular screws in spinal surgery lack precision, are invasive, and fail to guide screws accurately due to empirical arrangement of guide channels, leading to potential neurological injuries and instability of the vertebral segment.
Innovation Solution
A drilling mask with a guide body comprising a reference element and lateral guide portions, mutually coupled through releasable engagement means, allowing precise alignment and removal without detaching soft tissues, and adaptable for various screw types, including tubular screws guided by Kirschner wires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If drilling masks are used for transpedicular screw implantation, then surgical precision should improve, but the masks require detaching soft tissues from the entire spine section which increases invasivity
Solution Approach 1:
The drilling mask is divided into a reference portion and a lateral guide portion that can be separated. The lateral guide portion with the guide channel is detached from the reference portion after drilling, allowing removal without detaching soft tissues from the entire spine section. Only minimal tissue detachment is required at the specific pedicle site.
2Device complexity
If guide channels are arranged empirically during surgery, then device complexity is reduced, but positioning precision deteriorates leading to drilling errors
Solution Approach 1:
The guide channel is pre-positioned at a predetermined angle relative to the reference element during mask fabrication, rather than being arranged empirically during surgery. This preliminary configuration ensures accurate drilling position while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the drilling mask remains in place during screw introduction, then positioning stability is maintained, but the mask obstructs screw insertion and cannot be removed
Solution Approach 1:
The mask is segmented into a reference portion and a lateral guide portion. The lateral guide portion containing the guide channel is detached from the reference portion after drilling, allowing the screw to be inserted through the drilled hole without obstruction, while the reference portion remains to maintain positioning stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral guide portion is extracted from the complete mask structure after the drilling function is fulfilled. This extracted portion obstructs neither screw insertion nor reference element positioning, resolving the conflict between stability and operational ease.
4Manufacturing precision
If fluoroscopy is used continuously for screw positioning control, then positioning precision improves, but operation time increases and radiation exposure to surgical team and patient increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drilling mask with pre-configured guide channel performs the positioning function preliminarily and continuously throughout the drilling and screw insertion process. This mechanical guidance replaces the need for continuous fluoroscopic checks, reducing both operation time and radiation exposure while maintaining positioning accuracy.
Data Source
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AI summary
A drilling mask (100) for implanting a transpedicular screw (50) on a spine section (200) comprises a guide body (10) with a distal surface (12) and a proximal surface (14), opposite to the distal surface (12) and facing towards the spine section (200). The guide body (10) comprises a reference element (21) obtained on the proximal surface (14) and arranged to contact the spinous process (220), a guide channel (25) that extends starting from the distal surface (12), which is arranged to work as drilling guide for drilling the pedicle (250) and implanting the transpedicular screw (50), and a plurality, of support elements (22, 23) made on the proximal surface (14), associated with the reference element (21), arranged to contact side parts of the spine section (220). The guide body (10) comprises at least one reference portion (10a), which represents the central portion of the mask, equipped with the reference element (21), and configured to be put at the spinous process (220) and at least one lateral guide portion (10b, 10c), cooperating with the reference portion (10a), which comprises the guide channel (25) for drilling the pedicle (250) and the support elements (22, 23) laterally with respect to the spinous process (220).