Minimally Invasive Spinal Fixation with Breakaway Pedicle Screws
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current minimally invasive spinal fixation devices face challenges in providing effective stabilization with minimal risk, trauma, and recovery time, especially following procedures like discectomy, due to the need for large incisions and potential complications such as blood loss and infection.
Innovation Solution
A minimally invasive spinal fixation assembly featuring pedicle rods and screws with a breakaway design, allowing for relative fixation of vertebrae through small incisions, utilizing a pedicle rod secured by pedicle screws with a breakaway region and a suture guide assembly for linking screws, enabling stabilization of multiple vertebrae with reduced tissue disruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional spinal fixation devices are used, then effective stabilization of vertebrae is achieved, but large incisions are required causing increased trauma, blood loss, and infection risk
Solution Approach 1:
The spinal fixation system is divided into separate modular components: pedicle screws with heads, fixation rods, and connecting elements. Each component can be implanted through separate small incisions, eliminating the need for a single large incision. The screws are implanted through small pedicle access points, and rods are inserted through separate small incisions, reducing overall tissue trauma while maintaining stabilization effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixation rod is inserted through the head of the pedicle screw, with the rod nesting within the screw head structure. The connecting element nests within the rod and screw assembly, creating a compact hierarchical structure that allows all components to be delivered through minimally invasive access points while achieving stable vertebral fixation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If minimally invasive techniques are used, then reduced trauma and faster recovery are achieved, but the ability to stabilize multiple vertebrae effectively is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The pedicle screw with head assembly serves multiple functions: it anchors to the vertebra through the pedicle, provides a receiving structure for the fixation rod, and enables connection to adjacent screws through the rod. This multi-functional design allows a single small incision to accomplish what would traditionally require multiple access points, enabling stabilization of multiple vertebrae while minimizing tissue disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a linear arrangement requiring sequential access through one large incision to a three-dimensional configuration where screws are implanted through small pedicle access points and rods connect them through separate small incisions. This spatial reorganization allows multi-vertebral stabilization through multiple small incisions distributed along the spinal segment, reducing localized tissue trauma while maintaining overall stabilization capability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If traditional spinal fixation implants are used, then stable fixation is achieved, but the surgical procedure requires large incisions and extensive tissue dissection
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional single-incision approach is segmented into multiple small incisions: one for each pedicle screw implantation and separate incisions for rod insertion and securing. Each small incision is sufficient for its specific function, and the cumulative tissue disruption is less than a single large incision, while achieving the same fixation stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixation rod acts as an intermediary element that connects the pedicle screws implanted through small incisions. The rod transmits and distributes mechanical loads across multiple vertebrae, providing stable fixation without requiring large incisions for direct screw-to-screw connection. The rod mediates the mechanical interaction between screws while allowing minimally invasive implantation.
Data Source
AI summary
A spinal fixation assembly includes a pedicle rod and pedicle screws which secure the pedicle rod to the spine. Each pedicle screw includes a head configured to receive a portion of the pedicle rod, and a threaded portion extending from a first end of the head and configured to engage a vertebra. The pedicle rod is secured to the head by a fastener. The head includes a breakaway region that defines a location in which at least a first portion of the head can be easily separated from the remainder of the head upon application of sufficient force to the first portion. A minimally invasive method of implanting the spinal fixation assembly is disclosed.