Spinal Fixation Implant With Rotating Locking Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current spinal fixation devices require extensive manipulation and repositioning of patients during surgery, and existing screw fixation methods are invasive and inefficient for adequately fixing and decompressing adjacent bones in the spinal canal.

Innovation Solution

Development of an orthopedic implant with elongated bodies and rigid abutment surfaces that include a locking mechanism, allowing for minimally invasive percutaneous placement and rotation to apply compressive loads, anchoring the implant to bone surfaces with sharpened protrusions, thereby immobilizing adjacent bones without excessive manipulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional screw fixation methods are used, then adequate fixation into the vertebral body can be achieved, but the surgical procedure becomes invasive and requires extensive manipulation of the patient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixation reliabilityVSAvoidsurgical invasiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an interspinous process implant as an intermediary device that provides fixation between spinous processes without requiring direct screw insertion into the vertebral body. This mediator approach achieves adequate fixation while avoiding the invasive nature of traditional pedicle screw techniques

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The implant is divided into distinct segments including superior and inferior spinous process engagement portions, a body portion, and separate locking mechanisms. This segmentation allows the device to achieve fixation through multiple distributed contact points rather than relying on deep bone penetration, reducing surgical invasiveness while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If traditional screw fixation methods are used, then spinal segment immobilization can be achieved, but the surgical procedure requires excessive manipulation and repositioning of the patient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespinal segment stabilityVSAvoidsurgical procedure ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The implant is pre-configured with engagement portions and locking mechanisms that are prepared before insertion. The superior and inferior spinous process engagement portions are pre-formed to match anatomical structures, and the locking mechanism is pre-assembled, eliminating the need for intraoperative manipulation and repositioning to achieve spinal segment stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The implant features a self-locking mechanism that automatically secures the spinal segment in the desired position after insertion. The locking mechanism engages the spinous processes and maintains immobilization without requiring further surgical manipulation or patient repositioning, making the procedure easier to perform

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If minimally invasive percutaneous placement is used, then surgical invasiveness is reduced, but adequate fixation and decompression of adjacent bones becomes more difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical invasivenessVSAvoidbone fixation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The implant features locally optimized engagement surfaces with varying geometries - the superior spinous process engagement portion has a first configuration tailored to the superior process, while the inferior spinous process engagement portion has a second configuration tailored to the inferior process. This local quality differentiation ensures adequate fixation reliability through minimally invasive percutaneous placement by matching each contact surface to its specific anatomical target

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If the implant includes rotation capability to apply compressive loads, then bone decompression and immobilization is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebone immobilization reliabilityVSAvoidimplant structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism is designed to perform multiple functions through a single integrated structure - it provides both the rotation capability to apply compressive loads for bone decompression and the locking function to maintain immobilization. This merging of functions achieves reliable bone immobilization and decompression while minimizing device complexity by avoiding separate mechanisms for each function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8795335B1Spinal fixation devices and methods of use

Publication Date: 2014.08.05 ABDOU SAMY

AI summary

Disclosed is an orthopedic implant and methods of implantation for fixing adjacent bones. In an embodiment, the implant includes a locking mechanism that is adapted to be advanced by a locking instrument, wherein advancement of the locking mechanism in a first direction produces rotation of a first rigid abutment surface from a first orientation to a second orientation, and continued advancement of the locking mechanism produces advancement of the first rigid abutment surface towards a second rigid abutment surface and placement of a compressive load onto and sufficient to immobilize the implant relative to the first bony surface and the second bony surface.