Spinal Fixation Device With Hinge-Pivotable Deployment Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spinal fixation devices face challenges in accurately and stably fixing cages between vertebrae due to prolonged surgical duration, potential misalignment, and deviation in fixation direction caused by the irregular surface of vertebrae.
Innovation Solution
A spinal fixation device featuring a detachably coupled middle plate and hinge-pivotably deployed plates, which are selectively fixed to the vertebrae using a fixing bolt, ensuring accurate and stable cage placement by preventing arbitrary rotation and providing a mechanism to limit deployment angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a plate is used to fix the cage after insertion, then the cage can be secured to the vertebrae, but the surgical duration is prolonged and misalignment may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation device is divided into multiple segments: a cage for intervertebral placement, a middle plate for initial stabilization, and deployment plates with hinges for final fixation. This segmentation allows the middle plate to provide immediate stability while the deployment plates are positioned, reducing overall surgical time while maintaining fixation reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The middle plate is attached to the cage before insertion and provides preliminary stabilization during the procedure. This preliminary action ensures the cage remains properly positioned while the deployment plates are being prepared and installed, reducing the risk of misalignment and decreasing the time needed for final fixation.
2Reliability
If the plate is fixed after cage insertion, then the cage is secured, but the plate may be fixed obliquely or askew due to irregular vertebra surface
Solution Approach 1:
The deployment plates incorporate hinge joints that allow dynamic adjustment during the fixation process. The hinges enable the deployment plates to adapt to the irregular vertebra surface while maintaining proper alignment with the cage, ensuring accurate fixation even when the vertebral surface is not perfectly smooth.
Solution Approach 2:
The middle plate serves as an intermediary component between the cage and the deployment plates. It provides a stable reference surface that facilitates accurate positioning of the deployment plates, ensuring they are aligned correctly with the cage before final fixation to the vertebrae, thereby preventing oblique or askew placement.
3Reliability
If the cage is inserted between vertebrae to form a gap, then the vertebrae are separated for fusion, but the cage may deviate from the intended direction due to irregular vertebra surface
Solution Approach 1:
The middle plate is pre-attached to the cage with alignment features that guide the cage into the correct position during insertion. This preliminary alignment ensures the cage is directed accurately toward the intended target between the vertebrae, compensating for irregular vertebral surfaces and preventing deviation during the insertion process.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a spinal fixation device (300), which includes a cage (310) which is placed between adjacent vertebrae to form a gap between the vertebrae, a middle plate (355) which is detachably coupled to the cage, and deployment plates (351, 352) which are hinge-pivotably coupled to the middle plate at one side end, thereby stably fixing the cage in a correct position between the vertebrae.