Spinal Implant Drive Instrument With Spring Retention Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical implants, such as spinal fusion devices and intervertebral spacers, are difficult to position and manipulate at target implantation sites due to challenges in handling and securing them during surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A drive instrument with a retention mechanism, featuring a screwdriver-like design with a retention mechanism that includes grippers or springs to securely hold and release screws or locking members, allowing for precise manipulation and positioning of implants like intervertebral spacers, which can be expanded in situ to support the spine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional surgical instruments are used to position and manipulate implants, then the surgical procedure can be performed, but the implants are difficult to position and manipulate at target implantation sites
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specialized drive instrument as an intermediary tool between the surgeon and the implant. This drive instrument includes a retention mechanism with grippers that selectively engage with drive portions of fasteners or locking members, enabling precise manipulation and positioning of implants at target sites without requiring direct manual handling of the implants themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive instrument is segmented into distinct functional components: a retention mechanism with multiple grippers for securing fasteners, a drive shaft for transmitting rotational force, and a control mechanism for selective engagement and disengagement. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, improving overall ease of operation.
2Measurement precision
If retention mechanisms with grippers are used to securely hold fasteners, then precise manipulation is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retention mechanism employs spring-loaded grippers that automatically engage with the drive portion of fasteners when the fastener is inserted into the drive instrument. The spring force provides automatic retention without requiring additional activation steps, achieving precise positioning capability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
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 efficient and controlled implantation of medical devices by securely holding and releasing screws or locking members, facilitating precise expansion and positioning of intervertebral spacers to support the spine, thereby addressing the challenges of handling and securing implants during surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element biased outwardly to releasably hold the drive head in the socket
Data Source
AI summary
A system for treating a subject's spine can include an intervertebral spacer. The intervertebral spacer can be movable between unexpanded and expanded configurations. A locking member can have a threaded distal region configured to threadably engage the intervertebral spacer, and a proximal drive. A drive instrument assembly can include a retention mechanism detachably couplable to the locking member. The retention mechanism can include a socket configured to receive the drive head to rotationally fix the drive instrument to the locking member, and a spring element biased outwardly to releasably hold the drive head in the socket when the spring element extends into the drive head. The drive instrument assembly can be configured to rotate the locking member to move the intervertebral spacer from the unexpanded configuration to the expanded configuration.