Spinal Implant Distraction Structure for Minimally Invasive Tissue Separation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current minimally invasive surgical techniques for treating vertebral compression fractures and intervertebral disk degeneration face challenges in effectively separating and supporting tissue layers without causing significant trauma, nerve root retraction, and inconsistent results due to the limitations of existing implantable devices and methods.

Innovation Solution

A spinal implant system comprising a guide member and an elongated member that can be deployed to form a distraction structure between tissue layers, allowing for minimally invasive procedures with reduced invasiveness, including a thermoplastic material implantable member that is substantially incompressible in one direction and flexible in another, enabling the separation and support of spinal tissue layers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional open surgical techniques are used to separate and support tissue layers in the spine, then effective separation and support can be achieved, but significant trauma and nerve root retraction occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of tissue separation and supportVSAvoidsurgical trauma and nerve root retraction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical procedure is divided into distinct stages: first inserting a guide member through a small incision, then deploying the elongated member in a separate step. This segmentation allows minimally invasive access while achieving the separation and support functions that traditionally required open surgery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The elongated member is nested within the guide member during insertion, allowing the larger distraction structure to pass through a small incision. Once deployed, the elongated member extends beyond the guide member to provide the necessary separation and support between tissue layers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If existing implantable devices are used to separate tissue layers, then some separation can be achieved, but the results are inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsistency of separation resultsVSAvoidsimplicity of implantable device

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The elongated member transitions from a compressed, flexible state during insertion to an expanded, rigid distraction structure after deployment. This dynamic transformation ensures consistent separation results while maintaining a simple insertion profile that reduces surgical complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The physical parameters of the elongated member are changed from a flexible, compressible configuration during insertion to a rigid, extended configuration after deployment. This parameter change enables reliable and consistent tissue separation while keeping the implantation procedure simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If minimally invasive techniques are used to reduce trauma, then surgical trauma and nerve root retraction are reduced, but effective separation and support of tissue layers becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical trauma and nerve root retractionVSAvoideffectiveness of tissue separation and support

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The elongated member utilizes the radial dimension by expanding outward from the guide member after insertion. This dimensional transition allows the device to achieve effective tissue separation and support through a small incision, maintaining minimally invasive benefits while ensuring therapeutic effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide member serves as an intermediary that facilitates the insertion of the elongated member through a small incision. Once the elongated member is deployed, it assumes the primary function of separating and supporting tissue layers, while the guide member is removed, having fulfilled its mediating role.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The system allows for effective separation and support of spinal tissue layers, reducing trauma and nerve root retraction, while enabling the restoration of vertebral height and maintenance of disk space, thereby improving surgical outcomes and patient recovery.

Implementation Method 1

A spinal implant system comprising a guide member and an elongated member that can be deployed to form a distraction structure between tissue layers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

a thermoplastic material implantable member that is substantially incompressible in one direction and flexible in another

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAnisotropic Mechanical Properties:

Data Source

PatentUS8591583B2Devices for treating the spine

Publication Date: 2013.11.26 IZI MEDICAL PRODUCTS LLC

AI summary

Various features of spinal implants and systems and methods for implanting the same with or between tissue layers in the human body.