Spinal Correction System with Adjustable Collar and Forced Engagement

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current spinal correction systems for treating musculoskeletal disorders, such as scoliosis and kyphosis, face challenges in effectively aligning and stabilizing vertebrae, often requiring complex implantation procedures and additional locking mechanisms, which can be cumbersome and less efficient.

Innovation Solution

A spinal correction system comprising elongate members with adjustable collars and extenders that allow for pivot coupling and derotation of vertebrae, enabling precise alignment and stabilization through a combination of forces applied via handles, eliminating the need for separate locking structures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional spinal correction systems use separate locking mechanisms to stabilize vertebrae, then the stabilization reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestabilization reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the stabilization and locking functions into a single integrated elongate member structure. The first and second ends of the elongate member directly engage with vertebrae through forced engagement of inner surfaces with outer surfaces of coupling members, eliminating the need for separate locking mechanisms while maintaining stabilization reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent removes unnecessary locking mechanisms from the traditional spinal correction system. By designing the elongate member with direct forced engagement capabilities at its ends, the system extracts redundant components while preserving the essential stabilization function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Manufacturing precision

If complex implantation procedures are used to align vertebrae, then the alignment precision is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The elongate member is pre-configured with specific geometric features including angled orientations at its ends and forced engagement surfaces. This preliminary design allows the member to self-align and engage vertebrae in the desired configuration during implantation, achieving high alignment precision without complex surgical procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using complex procedures to achieve alignment, the patent inverts the approach by designing the implant itself to inherently provide alignment through its geometric configuration. The forced engagement mechanism and angled orientations are built into the elongate member, allowing simple implantation procedures to achieve precise alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Stability of the object's composition

If additional locking structures are added to stabilize the implant, then the stability is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplant stabilityVSAvoidease of manufacture
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the stabilization function into the basic structure of the elongate member itself. The forced engagement of inner surfaces with outer surfaces of coupling members provides inherent stability without requiring additional locking structures, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture while ensuring implant stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2814411B1Spinal correction system
Publication Date: 2017.08.23 WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC INC
  • EP2814411B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2814411B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2814411B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A spinal correction system comprises an elongate member extending between a first end including a first inner surface defining a first cavity and a second end including a collar having a second inner surface defining a second cavity. The second cavity is movable relative to the elongate member in at least one orientation. The second end defining an elongated cavity. A first extender defines a first outer surface and a second extender defines a second outer surface. The elongate member is disposable between a first configuration and a second configuration such that the second cavity is movable in the at least one orientation to a position such that the first inner surface is forcibly disposable in a fixed engagement with the first outer surface and the interior surface is forcibly disposed in a fixed engagement with at least a portion of the collar. Methods of use are disclosed.