Spinal Implant Angled Sidewall Openings Graft Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal implants lack an efficient mechanism for delivering and distributing graft material within the intervertebral space to facilitate effective spinal fusion, leading to suboptimal fusion rates and potential graft material migration.
Innovation Solution
A spinal implant design featuring angled sidewall openings and a chamber system that allows for selective delivery and controlled exit of graft material, ensuring a greater volume exits through specific openings to promote fusion between vertebral bodies, with features like teeth on surfaces to prevent migration and enhance contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If graft material is delivered into the interior chamber of the implant, then the implant can facilitate spinal fusion, but the graft material may migrate to suboptimal locations reducing fusion effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The implant incorporates multiple strategically positioned sidewall openings that segment the graft material distribution pathways. These openings are located at specific angles and positions to guide graft material to predetermined locations on the vertebral bodies, preventing random migration and ensuring reliable placement at optimal fusion sites.
Solution Approach 2:
The angled sidewall openings act as intermediary structures between the interior chamber and the external environment. These openings mediate the flow of graft material, directing it from the chamber to specific target areas on the vertebral bodies, thereby controlling migration and ensuring effective fusion.
2Ease of operation
If the implant includes multiple openings in sidewalls for graft material delivery, then graft distribution is improved, but the implant structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The implant structure is segmented with multiple sidewall openings positioned at different angles and locations. This segmentation enables controlled graft material delivery to various regions while maintaining a relatively simple overall implant geometry that does not significantly increase manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The openings are strategically positioned with specific local qualities - different angles, sizes, and locations optimized for their specific function in directing graft material to particular vertebral body surfaces. This localized optimization improves graft delivery without requiring complex overall structural changes.
3Reliability
If graft material volume is increased to ensure adequate contact with vertebral surfaces, then fusion effectiveness improves, but the risk of unintended migration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The implant design extracts and redirects excess graft material that would otherwise migrate uncontrollably. The angled sidewall openings serve as controlled extraction points, channeling surplus graft material to predetermined locations rather than allowing random migration, thereby enabling increased graft volumes without proportionally increasing migration risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The sidewall openings act as intermediary channels that mediate the relationship between increased graft material volume and migration control. These openings provide controlled pathways that accommodate larger graft volumes while directing flow to specific target areas, preventing uncontrolled migration even when substantial graft material is delivered.
Data Source
AI summary
According to some embodiments, a method for promoting spinal fusion using a spinal implant comprises providing a spinal implant, wherein the spinal implant comprises at least one internal chamber being is adapted to receive at least one graft and/or other fill material. In some arrangements, one or more walls of the spinal implant comprise at least one opening or hole that places the internal chamber in fluid communication with an exterior area or portion of the spinal implant. The method additionally includes positioning the spinal implant between two adjacent vertebrae of a patient and directing at least one graft and/or other fill material into the internal chamber of the spinal implant through the access port.