Spinal Fusion Implant Alignment With Partial Endplate Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional spinal fusion procedures face challenges in maintaining vertebral endplate integrity during surgery, leading to potential implant subsidence and compromised spinal alignment, which can cause pain and inhibit fusion, while existing implants often require extensive endplate preparation that weakens the vertebral bodies.
Innovation Solution
The development of spinal fusion devices that allow for partial or complete removal of lower endplate material, utilizing posterior vertebral support structures and fixation screws for secure implant placement, along with anatomically tailored alignment adjustments to stabilize and realign the spine, promoting bone growth and fusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If extensive endplate preparation is performed to secure implant placement, then implant fixation is improved, but vertebral body strength is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes only the damaged or diseased portion of the endplate rather than preparing the entire endplate surface. This selective extraction approach secures implant placement on healthy endplate tissue while preserving the structural integrity of the vertebral body, thus improving implant fixation without compromising overall vertebral strength
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different treatment zones to the endplate: the damaged portion is removed while the healthy portion is preserved for implant support. This local quality differentiation allows the implant to be secured on sound tissue while maintaining the vertebral body's overall strength, resolving the contradiction between fixation reliability and structural integrity
2Ease of operation
If endplate material is removed to allow implant placement, then implant insertion is facilitated, but vertebral endplate integrity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the specific damaged or diseased portion of the endplate that is preventing proper implant placement. This selective removal facilitates implant insertion while preserving the integrity of the remaining healthy endplate tissue, thus achieving ease of operation without compromising overall endplate stability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies partial action by removing only the necessary portion of the endplate (not the entire endplate) to allow implant placement. This partial removal is sufficient to facilitate insertion while maintaining enough endplate tissue to preserve structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and compositional stability
3Device complexity
If spinal alignment is not properly adjusted, then surgical procedure is simpler, but spinal stability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary alignment adjustment of the spinal segments before final implant placement. This preliminary action ensures proper spinal stability is achieved while maintaining relative surgical simplicity, as the alignment is established beforehand rather than during the complex implantation process
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are systems, methods and procedures for altering and/or realigning spinal motion segments to facilitate spinal arthrodesis procedures and patient recovery therefrom.