Spinal Fixation Implant with Triangular Shank for Sacroiliac Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bone implant technologies for sacroiliac joint and spinal stabilization and fusion require invasive procedures, extensive soft tissue stripping, and often necessitate the removal of cartilage, which can be painful and disruptive.
Innovation Solution
Development of bone implants with a shank portion, body portion, and head portion designed for minimally invasive insertion, featuring triangular cross-sections and splines to prevent rotation, and a tulip or coupling device for stabilizing rods, allowing for bony ingrowth and throughgrowth without the need for extensive soft tissue disruption or cartilage removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional screw and plate designs are used for sacroiliac fusion, then stable fixation is achieved, but extensive soft tissue stripping and large incisions are required
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into distinct functional segments: a threaded shank portion for bone anchoring, a body portion with fenestrations for bone ingrowth, and a head portion with a tulip structure for rod attachment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while enabling minimally invasive insertion through a unified device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using screws that require large incisions and extensive soft tissue retraction for insertion and removal, the invention inverts the approach by designing an implant that can be inserted through a minimally invasive percutaneous technique. The implant structure itself is configured to be self-retaining and stable without requiring extensive soft tissue dissection.
2Reliability
If cartilage removal is performed for sacroiliac fusion, then joint stabilization is achieved, but patient pain and recovery time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The implant design incorporates pre-configured features that eliminate the need for preliminary cartilage removal. The threaded shank portion is designed to anchor directly into bone tissue through a minimally invasive percutaneous approach, and the body portion with fenestrations is pre-configured to facilitate bone ingrowth without requiring prior cartilage excision or joint preparation.
3Ease of operation
If implants allow rotation, then insertion is easier, but stabilization effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The implant employs asymmetric geometric features to prevent rotation: the body portion has a triangular cross-section with three fenestrations arranged in a specific asymmetric pattern, and the head portion features a tulip structure with a slot oriented at a specific angle. These asymmetric features engage with corresponding asymmetric features in the bone and rod, respectively, preventing rotational movement while maintaining ease of insertion through the asymmetric geometry that guides proper orientation during placement.
4Ease of operation
If extensive soft tissue stripping is performed, then implant access is improved, but patient trauma and recovery time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional surgical approach by designing an implant that is inserted through a minimally invasive percutaneous technique rather than requiring open surgery with extensive soft tissue stripping. The implant structure is configured to be delivered through a small incision using a delivery system, eliminating the need for large incisions and extensive soft tissue retraction while maintaining adequate access for proper implant placement and stabilization.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention generally relates to bone implants. More specifically, the present invention relates to bone implants used for the fixation and or fusion of the sacroiliac joint and/or the spine. For example, a system for fusing and or stabilizing a plurality of bones is provided. The system includes an implant structure having a shank portion, a body portion and a head portion. The body portion is coupled to the shank portion and is configured to be placed through a first bone segment, across a bone joint or fracture and into a second bone segment. The body portion is configured to allow for bony on-growth, ingrowth and through-growth. The head portion is coupled to the proximal end of the shank portion and is configured to couple the shank portion to a stabilizing rod. Methods of use are also disclosed.