Spinal Correction Device with Height-Adjustable Rings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical devices for correcting spinal deformities, such as scoliosis, face challenges in facilitating surgeon operations by allowing intervention on both sides of the spine column, adapting to desired lordosis/kyphosis profiles, reducing the force required to insert rods, and efficiently coupling tubular elements with pedicle screw heads without disassembly.
Innovation Solution
The surgical device employs height-adjustable rings to distribute forces along a curved implantable rod, a thrust member with a threaded sleeve to ease rod insertion, and collapsible tubular elements with fork-like couplings to securely engage with pedicle screw heads, allowing for precise alignment and fixation without disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional surgical devices are used for correcting spinal deformities, then the basic correction function is achieved, but the operating technique is complex and difficult for surgeons
Solution Approach 1:
The tubular element is divided into two independent parts that can be coupled together, allowing for easier manipulation and assembly during surgery while maintaining the overall structural integrity needed for spinal correction
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to perform multiple functions: aligning vertebrae, positioning the implantable rod, and securing fixation, all through a unified system that reduces the number of separate tools and steps required
2Manufacturing precision
If intervention is performed on both sides of the spine column, then correction accuracy is improved, but the operating technique becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The tubular elements and coupling mechanisms are designed to function identically on both convex and concave sides of the spine, allowing surgeons to perform symmetric correction procedures with the same technical approach, thereby improving accuracy without proportionally increasing operational difficulty
3Loss of time
If the curved rod is positioned and fixed without disassembling tubular elements, then surgical time is reduced, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The tubular elements are pre-configured with coupling arrangements and internal geometries that allow the implantable rod to be positioned and secured through the existing structure without requiring disassembly, thereby saving surgical time while the initial design complexity enables this streamlined process
4Manufacturing precision
If force is exerted to insert rods into tubular elements, then rod positioning is achieved, but excessive force makes the procedure difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The thrust member acts as an intermediary tool that translates rotational motion into linear pushing force, allowing surgeons to insert the rod into the tubular element with controlled, minimal force while maintaining precise positioning through the mechanical advantage of the screw mechanism
5Force
If thrust member with threaded sleeve is used to ease rod insertion, then insertion force is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thrust member with threaded sleeve serves as a simple mechanical intermediary that converts rotational input into linear output force, reducing the effort needed for rod insertion while maintaining a relatively simple add-on structure that integrates with the existing tubular element design
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
This solution enhances the efficiency of spinal correction by reducing the force needed to insert rods, adapting to individual spinal profiles, and ensuring secure fixation of the curved rod across multiple vertebrae, thereby improving the accuracy and ease of spinal realignment.
Implementation Method 1
the end of each tubular element has a threaded sleeve for screwing in a thrust member arranged to exert a pressing force on the rod alignment and maneuvering to simultaneously cause the displacement of the height-adjustable rings and of the curved implantable rod downwards
Implementation Method 2
said ring being arranged to be adjustable in height in order to compensate for the dimensional differences between the straight rod for alignment and operation and the curved rod
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 7~8
AI summary
The invention relates to a device including tubular elements (1) capable of being temporarily attached to pedicle-screw heads arranged so as to be connected by an implantable curved rod (3), wherein at least one rod (4) is to be movably inserted into slots (1c) and (1d) of each tubular element in order to align same with the correction of said column by translation, tilting, and rotation of the vertebrae in the three planes of the space, each tubular element (1) being designed in such a way that it can be coupled to the exterior of the pedicle-screw heads (2), the rod (4), which is an alignment and handling rod, being capable, as it moves, of acting on a means (7) for concomitantly moving the curved rod (3). The means (7) consists of a ring mounted in such a way that it can slide along the tubular element (1), said ring being arranged such that the height thereof is adjustable, so as to compensate for the dimensional deviations between the rectilinear alignment and handling rod (4) and the curved rod (3).