Self-Distracting Spinal Cage with Hydraulic Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spinal stabilization and fusion devices are invasive, non-adjustable, and fail to conform to the natural lordotic angle between vertebrae, requiring extensive site preparation and risking vertebral destabilization during implantation.
Innovation Solution
Development of a self-distracting, self-leveling spinal implant with an expandable container and adjustable endplate members, featuring a pleated member or hydraulic mechanism to accommodate varying heights and angles, allowing for minimally invasive surgical placement and customization to the intervertebral disc space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional intervertebral fusion devices are used, then spinal stabilization is achieved, but the implantation procedure becomes significantly invasive requiring extensive site preparation and muscle excision
Solution Approach 1:
The implant incorporates an expandable cage structure that transitions from a compressed delivery state to an expanded functional state within the disc space. This dynamic transformation allows the implant to be delivered through a minimally invasive approach while achieving the necessary stabilization function, resolving the contradiction between invasive delivery and stabilization efficacy
Solution Approach 2:
The implant is designed with a nested structure where the expandable cage is contained within a delivery system. The compressed cage fits within the delivery device for minimally invasive insertion, then expands to its functional configuration to provide stabilization, allowing the implant to be delivered through small incisions without requiring extensive surgical exposure
2Ease of manufacture
If predetermined size implants are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but the implant site must correspond to the implant configuration requiring extensive site preparation
Solution Approach 1:
The implant features adjustable height and lordotic angle through mechanical adjustment mechanisms that allow the surgeon to customize the implant dimensions after insertion. This dynamic adjustability eliminates the need for extensive site preparation to match predetermined implant sizes, as the implant can be configured to fit the specific anatomical requirements of each patient
Solution Approach 2:
The implant is delivered in a compressed, pre-configured state that facilitates minimally invasive insertion. After insertion, the implant is then expanded and adjusted to the final configuration. This preliminary compression allows easy delivery through small incisions, while subsequent expansion and adjustment provide the necessary customization without requiring extensive pre-surgical site preparation
3Reliability
If open surgical implantation is performed, then implant placement is achieved, but stabilizing muscles and ligaments must be excised causing vertebral destabilization
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable cage structure provides dynamic stabilization by expanding within the disc space to contact and stabilize the adjacent vertebral bodies. This internal expansion mechanism achieves implant placement and stabilization without requiring excision of external stabilizing structures, preserving the natural stability mechanisms of the spine while providing the necessary implant support
4Ease of operation
If current inner body cages are used, then minimally invasive insertion is achieved, but the implants cannot conform to the necessary lordotic angle between adjacent vertebrae
Solution Approach 1:
The implant incorporates adjustable lordotic angle mechanisms that allow the superior and inferior endplates to be oriented at different angles relative to each other. This dynamic angular adjustment enables the implant to conform to the natural lordotic curvature of the spine while maintaining minimally invasive insertion, resolving the contradiction between easy insertion and anatomical conformance
Solution Approach 2:
The implant features asymmetric endplate designs with different superior and inferior surfaces that can be oriented at different angles. This asymmetry allows the implant to conform to the lordotic angle of the spine, with the superior endplate angled differently from the inferior endplate, while still being deliverable through a minimally invasive approach in a neutral 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
Enables precise distraction and stabilization of adjacent vertebrae with adjustable height and lordotic angle, reducing surgical trauma and promoting bony fusion through minimally invasive procedures, while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues.
Implementation Method 1
an expandable container with an interior volume that is selectively expandable between a compressed condition and an expanded condition
Implementation Method 2
at least one inlet port is formed in the expandable container and is effective to communicate a fluid to at least one cavity disposed within the interior volume of the expandable container
Data Source
AI summary
Various spinal implants and methods for stabilizing the spine are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a spinal implant is provided having an expandable container with an interior volume that is selectively expandable between a compressed condition and an expanded condition. The expandable container is coupled to a superior endplate member having a bone-contacting surface and an engagement surface effective to mate with a superior surface of the expandable container, and an inferior endplate member having a bone-contacting surface and an engagement surface effective to mate with an inferior surface of the expandable container. In addition, at least one inlet port is formed in the expandable container and is effective to communicate a fluid to at least one cavity disposed within the interior volume of the expandable container.