Spinal Anchor Rod System with Pivotable Screw
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rod and anchor systems for correcting spinal abnormalities are prone to design changes during surgery due to unexpected conditions, leading to longer procedures, increased risk of infection, and potential improper implantation, as they lack flexibility and precision in accommodating varying patient anatomy and condition severity.
Innovation Solution
A method involving anchors with a receiving portion and screw, where the screw and receiving portion are made of different materials, allowing for pivotable engagement and selection of rods based on diameter and material, with a set screw used to secure the rod and receiving portion, enabling precise alignment and stabilization of the spine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If rod and anchor systems are designed with fixed specifications before surgery, then surgical planning is simplified, but the system lacks flexibility to accommodate unexpected conditions during surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor system is designed with a universal receiving portion that can accommodate multiple rod types (e.g., round rods, rectangular rods, contour rods) and various screw configurations. This multi-functionality allows the same anchor to adapt to different patient anatomies and surgical conditions without requiring custom-designed components, thereby improving adaptability while managing complexity through standardization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic selection and adjustment of rod and anchor specifications during surgery based on actual anatomical conditions. The receiving portion is designed to accept rods of varying diameters and materials, enabling the surgical team to adapt the implant architecture intraoperatively to match unexpected findings while maintaining procedural efficiency.
2Reliability
If rod and anchor specifications are predetermined based on pre-operative diagnosis, then surgical procedure time is reduced, but the risk of improper implantation increases due to unexpected conditions
Solution Approach 1:
While complete specification predetermination is avoided, the system performs preliminary preparation by having multiple rod types and anchor configurations readily available in the surgical tray based on typical anatomical variations. This allows the surgical team to quickly select the appropriate combination during surgery without extensive decision-making, maintaining both precision and efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables easy adjustment of critical parameters such as rod diameter, rod material, and anchor screw configuration during surgery. The standardized receiving portion design allows rapid parameter changes by simply exchanging rod components rather than redesigning the entire anchor-rod assembly, thereby maintaining implantation precision while minimizing time loss.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple rod types and anchor configurations are available for selection during surgery, then adaptability to patient anatomy is improved, but surgical procedure complexity and duration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the rod and anchor design into independent, interchangeable components: the anchor body, receiving portion, screw, and rod. This segmentation allows the surgical team to select and assemble only the specific combinations needed for each patient's anatomy, avoiding the complexity of managing fully customized integrated assemblies while maintaining high adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized receiving portion serves as a universal interface that can accommodate multiple rod types and configurations. This multi-functionality reduces the overall system complexity by using a common platform for diverse applications, thereby improving adaptability without proportionally increasing procedural complexity or duration.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of conducting a surgical procedure including implanting an anchor into a bone, wherein the anchor comprises a receiving portion and a screw, the screw including a screw head contained within the receiving portion and pivotally engageable with a surface of the receiving portion, and wherein the receiving portion and the screw comprising a different material. The method further includes selecting a rod from a group of rod types and coupling the rod with the receiving portion to stabilize a position of a portion of the spine.