Shoulder Press Device for Cervical Spine X-Ray Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
During anterior cervical discectomy and fusion procedures, X-rays often fail to capture all seven cervical vertebral bodies due to anatomical obstructions from the subject's jaw and shoulders, limiting the visibility of C1 and C2 by the jaw and C7 and T1 by the shoulders.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a cross-bar with orthogonally connected struts and shoulder members that apply downward pressure to the subject's shoulders, allowing for adjustable positioning to clear the radiographic area, ensuring all cervical vertebrae are visible in a single X-ray.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the subject's shoulders are in their natural position, then the device is simple and easy to use, but the radiographic area is obstructed and not all cervical vertebrae are visible
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional components: a cross-bar for structural support, adjustable struts for positioning, and shoulder members for application. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The struts are designed to be adjustable in length, allowing the device to adapt to different patient sizes and shoulder positions. This dynamic adjustability enables the device to achieve the optimal radiographic view without requiring a complex fixed structure.
2Measurement precision
If downward pressure is applied to the shoulders to clear the radiographic area, then all cervical vertebrae become visible, but the device requires additional components to apply and control the pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed to be positioned and adjusted before the X-ray procedure. The struts are pre-adjusted to the appropriate length, and the shoulder members are pre-positioned on the patient's shoulders. This preliminary setup ensures that when downward pressure is applied, the optimal radiographic view is immediately achieved without requiring complex real-time adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The cross-bar acts as an intermediary structure that transmits the downward pressure force from the operator through the adjustable struts to the shoulder members. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the operation by providing a clear force transmission path and allowing easy control of the pressure applied.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the strut length is made adjustable to fit different patients, then the device becomes more versatile, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each strut is segmented into adjustable sections that can be independently configured. This segmentation allows for simple length adjustments without requiring complex mechanisms, as each segment can be independently positioned and locked into place.
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes simple parameter changes in strut length to achieve adaptability to different patients. By adjusting the length parameter of the struts to match different patient sizes and anatomical dimensions, the device becomes versatile without requiring complex reconfiguration mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is directed to a shoulder press for holding the shoulders of a subject out of the way of an X-ray view by exerting a downward pressure upon the shoulders by means of the device so that all the vertebrae are visible in the X-ray, the shoulder press comprising a horizontal member and two vertical members, the vertical members having attachments for placing on the shoulders of the subject.