Spinal Fixation Instrument with Movable Rib Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical medical instruments for spine fixation struggle to efficiently disperse load to the ribs due to rigid hook structures, making it difficult to engage ribs via minimally invasive procedures.

Innovation Solution

A medical instrument with a spine support and a rib support connected via a freely movable connector, featuring vertically adjustable hooks that can abut both surfaces of the ribs, allowing for efficient load dispersion and minimally invasive engagement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the rib support is fixed to the spine support with rigid hooks, then the structure is simple and stable, but the load cannot be efficiently dispersed to the ribs and minimally invasive engagement is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload dispersion efficiencyVSAvoidengagement difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the connector movable rather than fixed, allowing the rib support to move along the rib in the longitudinal direction. This dynamic connection enables the hooks to engage the rib more easily through minimally invasive procedures while maintaining stable load dispersion once positioned

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of connection rigidity by introducing a movable connector that allows longitudinal movement between the spine support and rib support. This parameter change enables the system to transition from a rigid fixed connection to a dynamically adjustable connection, improving both engagement ease and load dispersion efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the hooks are fixed in position on the rib support, then the structure is simple, but the hooks cannot engage the rib surfaces effectively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehook engagement effectivenessVSAvoidhook adjustment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the hooks dynamically adjustable along the longitudinal direction of the rib support through the movable connector mechanism. This allows the hooks to be positioned at optimal locations for engaging the upper and lower surfaces of the rib, improving engagement effectiveness without requiring complex independent adjustment mechanisms for each hook

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the rib support cannot move along the ribs, then the structure is stable and simple, but efficient load dispersion to the ribs is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload dispersion efficiencyVSAvoidrib support mobility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic mobility to the rib support by connecting it to the spine support through a movable connector. This allows the rib support to move along the rib in the longitudinal direction, enabling the system to adapt to different rib positions and geometries while efficiently dispersing loads from the spine to the ribs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11006980B2Surgical medical instrument for spinal fixation

Publication Date: 2021.05.18 HIKARI CO LTD

AI summary

A medical instrument has a connector configured for being fixed to a spine support, and a rib support connected to the connector and configured for supporting the rib. The medical instrument has a pair of an upper hook and a lower hook provided on the rib support. One of the upper hook and the lower hook is fixed to the rib support so as to be vertically adjustable. The rib support is connected to the connector to be movable in a direction along the rib.