Spinal Fusion Implant with Rotating Connection Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spinal fusion implants completely fix neighboring vertebral bodies, limiting rotatability and increasing the risk of erroneous screwing, which can damage vital structures, and are often expensive to implement due to the need for advanced navigation systems.
Innovation Solution
A spinal fusion implant design featuring screws connected to vertebral bodies with guide holes and connection plates that allow for controlled rotation, using protrusions to ensure accurate screw placement and minimize the risk of error, and made from materials like resin or carbon fiber to enhance flexibility and reduce hindrance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional spinal fusion implants completely fix neighboring vertebral bodies, then stability and fixation strength are improved, but rotatability of vertebral bodies deteriorates and risk of erroneous screwing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection plate is designed to rotate relative to the vertebral body around a pivot point, transforming the completely fixed structure into a dynamic system that allows controlled rotation. The pivot point is positioned at the rotation center of the vertebral body, enabling natural rotational movement while maintaining stability during fusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection plate acts as an intermediary between the vertebral body and the fixation system. It provides a rotating interface that mediates between the need for stable fixation and the need for natural vertebral rotation, reducing stress concentration and preventing erroneous screwing.
2Ease of operation
If screws are screwed into vertebral bodies without precise positioning, then ease of operation is improved, but risk of damaging spinal cord and vital organs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection plate is pre-positioned on the vertebral body with the pivot point aligned at the rotation center before screw insertion. This preliminary positioning establishes the correct orientation and location, guiding subsequent screw insertion and preventing erroneous screwing into critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating connection plate structure itself provides the positioning guidance for screw insertion. The pivot point and rotation mechanism inherently define the safe insertion zone, making the system self-guiding and reducing reliance on expensive external navigation systems.
3Manufacturing precision
If expensive three-dimensional monitoring systems are used to prevent erroneous screwing, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connection plate with its pivot point design provides inherent self-positioning and self-guidance for screw insertion. The mechanical structure itself ensures precise placement without requiring external three-dimensional monitoring systems, making the system self-sufficient and cost-effective.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces expensive, complex, and reusable navigation systems with a simple, inexpensive, disposable connection plate that provides equivalent precision through its mechanical design. The connection plate is discarded after single use, eliminating the need for costly navigation equipment.
Data Source
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AI summary
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a spinal fusion implant capable of preserving turning properties of vertebral bodies, and in addition, capable of preventing false screwing (false insertion) of screws. Connection plates 3 constituting a spinal fusion implant 101 each have, on a ventral-side surface 3b, a convex-shaped portion 8 that is fitted into a concave-shaped portion of an intervertebral joint 53. In addition, a center hole 3d through which a center rod 4 is slidably inserted is formed on a side surface of the connection plate 3, such that the center of the hole is positioned closer to the back side than a virtual line L1 connecting midpoints on arc-shaped contour lines C of the concave-shaped portions of the adjacent intervertebral joints 53 when viewed from the head side of a human body.