Minimally Invasive Spinal Rod Insertion via U-Shaped Hook Tool
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional spinal fixation procedures require extensive incisions, muscle stripping, and tissue retraction, leading to prolonged recovery times, pain, and increased risk of complications, especially in spine fusion procedures where open surgery is necessary for placing stabilization rods and screws.
Innovation Solution
A method and tool assembly for minimally invasive spinal rod insertion using a U-shaped hook tool and a folded flexible wire to guide a spinal stabilization rod between adjacent vertebras, with pedicle screws and portals to secure the rod, reducing tissue trauma and enabling less invasive procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If open surgery is used for spinal rod insertion, then direct visualization and placement of stabilization rods and screws is achieved, but extensive tissue traumatization and prolonged recovery time occur
Solution Approach 1:
A minimally invasive access device serves as an intermediary tool, providing a controlled pathway through the skin and tissue to reach the spinal canal without requiring extensive muscle stripping. The device includes a cannula that can be inserted percutaneously and maintains a stable channel for rod insertion while minimizing damage to surrounding soft tissues.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the traditional mechanical open surgical approach with a percutaneous insertion method. Instead of using large incisions and retractors to mechanically expose the spine, the system uses a small-bore access device that can be inserted through a small puncture, substituting the mechanical exposure system with a minimally invasive access system.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If minimally invasive portals are used, then tissue trauma is reduced, but insertion of stabilization rods and screws becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The access device incorporates a dynamic design that allows for expansion or adjustment of the working channel. The cannula can be dilated or extended to provide adequate space for rod manipulation and insertion while maintaining the initial small puncture site. This dynamic capability enables complex rod placement procedures through a minimally invasive access point.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a nested structure where smaller instruments and rods are inserted through the cannula in sequence. The access device contains a series of concentric components that can be deployed as needed, with the final stabilization rod being inserted through the previously established pathway. This nesting approach allows complex instrumentation to be delivered through a small initial access point.
3Ease of operation
If extensive muscle stripping is performed, then direct access to spinal structures is achieved, but pain and recovery time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential function of muscle retraction from the surgical procedure. Instead of stripping and retracting large amounts of muscle tissue to expose the spine, the system extracts only the minimal necessary tissue to create a small puncture pathway. The access device then maintains this minimal opening while providing the necessary working space for spinal instrumentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a two-dimensional planar exposure approach to a three-dimensional percutaneous access approach. Rather than creating a wide flat incision that requires muscle displacement in multiple directions, the invention uses a small puncture that creates a narrow depth-oriented pathway directly to the spinal canal, utilizing the vertical dimension to bypass the need for lateral muscle stripping.
4Reliability
If open surgery is used, then stabilization rods can be securely fixed, but hospitalization costs and complication risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The access device serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between minimally invasive access and reliable fixation. The device includes features such as a stable cannula that provides a rigid pathway for rod insertion, and may include integrated guidance features that ensure proper positioning of the stabilization components. This intermediary structure maintains fixation reliability while enabling percutaneous access.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention substitutes the complex mechanical exposure system of open surgery with a simplified percutaneous insertion system. Instead of using large retractors, multiple incisions, and extensive tissue manipulation to achieve stable fixation, the system uses a small-bore access device that can be inserted through a single small puncture. The stabilization rods and screws are then inserted through this simplified pathway, reducing procedural complexity while maintaining fixation reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for spinal rod insertion includes providing a U-shaped hook tool comprising first and second legs, and inserting the first leg into a first location of a first vertebra and then pushing the hook tool along an arc-shaped path until the first leg exits through a second location of an adjacent second vertebra. Next, providing a spinal stabilization rod and a folded flexible wire comprising first and second open ends at the front end and a closed loop end. The closed loop end is attached to a first end of the spinal stabilization rod and the first and second open ends of the folded flexible wire are inserted into an open end of the second leg of the hook, and the folded flexible wire is threaded through the U-shaped hook and the first and second open ends of the flexible wire exit through an open end of the first leg.