Self-aligning spinal plating system with radiolucent insertion member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices, such as cervical and lumbar fusion plates, often misalign with a patient's anatomy due to obscured operative views during minimally invasive surgeries, leading to sub-optimal and costly alignment processes that require multiple X-rays, increasing surgical time and risk of complications.
Innovation Solution
A self-aligning plating system comprising an interbody spacer with a gendered coupling mechanism and an insertion member, allowing the medical device plate to slide over the insertion member for precise alignment with the vertebrae, followed by detachment of the insertion member, facilitating accurate placement and reducing the need for radiographic adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If minimally invasive surgical approaches are used, then surgical trauma is reduced, but visibility and orientation of the medical device and patient's anatomy are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
A radiolucent alignment tool is introduced as an intermediary device between the surgeon and the patient's anatomy. This tool provides visual reference markers that are visible on fluoroscopic imaging, enabling the surgeon to maintain orientation and achieve precise alignment while using minimally invasive techniques. The alignment tool acts as a mediator that bridges the gap between reduced visibility and the need for accurate device placement.
2Productivity
If manual alignment approaches are used, then device placement is performed, but alignment precision is reduced leading to multiple X-rays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical alignment techniques with a system based on radiographic imaging and visual reference markers. The alignment tool incorporates markers that are visible on fluoroscopic images, allowing the surgeon to objectively assess alignment in real-time and make precise adjustments. This substitution of manual estimation with imaging-based measurement significantly improves alignment precision and reduces the need for multiple corrective X-rays.
3Measurement precision
If multiple X-rays are taken for alignment verification, then alignment accuracy is improved, but surgical time and radiation exposure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment tool is pre-positioned and pre-aligned with the patient's anatomy before the actual device placement. The visual reference markers are established in advance, providing a ready-made alignment framework. This preliminary action allows the surgeon to perform device placement in a single pass with high accuracy, eliminating the need for multiple iterative X-ray verifications and significantly reducing surgical time and radiation exposure.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the medical device plate is fixed immediately, then device stability is achieved, but alignment adjustments become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment tool is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to be temporarily positioned and adjusted during the procedure. The tool can be slid into place, visually verified for alignment, and then removed or secured as needed. This dynamic approach enables the surgeon to make alignment adjustments before final device fixation, achieving both ease of operation during alignment and device stability after placement.
Data Source
AI summary
Self-aligning plating systems and methods are disclosed. The self-aligning plating system may include an interbody spacer, a medical device plate, and an insertion member. The interbody spacer may be inserted between a top vertebra and a bottom vertebra of a patient's spinal column. A medical device plate may slide along an insertion member in operable connectivity with the interbody spacer so that the medical device plate comes into contact with and can be secured to the patient's anatomy.