Single-Sided Dynamic Spine Plate Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spine plates are too wide and double-sided, making them unsuitable for stabilization situations requiring a smaller width or lateral attachment to vertebrae, limiting their applicability in spinal surgery.
Innovation Solution
A single-sided dynamic spine plate with a modular design featuring a plurality of components dynamically coupled via socket and projection interfaces, allowing for adjustable extension and rotation stabilizers, providing a self-biased snap fit mechanism for secure attachment to vertebrae.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional double-sided spine plates are used to stabilize vertebrae, then spinal stabilization is achieved, but the plate width is too large and cannot accommodate lateral attachment or smaller profile requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The spine plate is divided into a middle component and two end components that can be separately positioned and attached. This segmentation allows the plate to be configured in different patterns (e.g., asymmetric placement, lateral attachment) rather than requiring symmetric double-sided attachment, thereby reducing the effective width requirement while maintaining stabilization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a traditional double-sided (two-dimensional symmetric) attachment approach to a single-sided or lateral attachment configuration. By utilizing the superior/inferior dimension more effectively and allowing asymmetric positioning along the vertebral column, the plate achieves versatility without requiring large width.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional fixed spine plates are used, then structural stability is provided, but dynamic adjustment and rotational stability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the end components and middle component is made dynamic rather than fixed. The end components can move relative to the middle component along the superior/inferior axis, allowing the spine plate to accommodate physiological motion and provide dynamic stabilization. This dynamic capability enables adjustment while maintaining overall structural integrity through the resilient coupling mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The spine plate incorporates a resilient coupling mechanism that combines rigid structural elements with flexible, energy-absorbing materials or features. This composite approach allows the plate to provide both rotational stability (through the rigid bone screw connections) and dynamic adjustment capability (through the resilient coupling that allows controlled movement).
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 flexible, adjustable stabilization and fusion of vertebrae with a smaller profile, accommodating various spinal attachment needs and enhancing rotational stability, thus improving surgical outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
The socket and projection interfaces incorporate a resilient coupling mechanism for connecting the spine plate components, providing a self-biased, snap fit coupling of spine plate components
Data Source
AI summary
A dynamic spine plate is formed with only a single row of bone screw bores that extend along a generally superior/inferior axis of the spine plate, providing a single-sided dynamic spine plate. The single-sided dynamic spine plate is formed from a plurality of spine plate components that are coupled dynamically to one another. This provides a modular, single-sided dynamic spine plate. The spine plate components are coupled dynamically to one another via socket and projection interfaces, the socket and projections interfaces incorporating resilient coupling and retention structures that allow limited movement of the spine plate components relative to one another. This provides for dynamic extension of the spine plate components relative to one another. The resilient coupling structure connects the spine plate components, providing a self-biased, snap fit coupling of spine plate components. Rotation stabilizers may be provide on the present single-sided dynamic spine plate that provide rotational stability to the spine plate in addition to the bone screws that will attach the spine plate to the vertebrae.