U-Shaped Spinal Implant Basket Segmentation for Bone Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing height-adjustable spinal implants based on the car jack principle face issues such as limited bone contact, inadequate biological stimulus for new bone formation, risk of fatigue fractures, inability to follow natural spinal curves, and insufficient security against spinal cord compression, leading to complications like malpositioning and nerve structure impairment.
Innovation Solution
A height-adjustable implant design featuring a U-shaped outer and inner basket with a spreading mechanism and actuating instrument, allowing for rigid connection and controlled displacement of the baskets along the lordotic shape, facilitating bone ingrowth, reducing radiation exposure, and enabling easy reversal of the expansion mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sleeve-shaped height-adjustable implants are used, then height adjustment is enabled, but bone contact and biological stimulus for new bone formation are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into an inner basket and an outer basket that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows the implant to provide both height adjustment capability and sufficient surface area for bone contact and ossification, resolving the contradiction between adjustability and biological integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner basket is designed to be movable within the outer basket, creating a dynamic structure that can adapt to different height requirements while maintaining stable anchoring. This dynamic design enables height adjustment without compromising bone contact, as the movable inner basket can be positioned optimally for both functions.
2Ease of operation
If the implant structure is simplified for easy operation, then ease of operation improves, but the ability to follow natural spinal curves (lordosis) is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The movable inner basket within the outer basket creates a dynamic adjustment mechanism that is simple to operate yet capable of following the natural lordotic curve of the spine. The movement of the inner basket relative to the outer basket allows the implant to adapt to spinal curvature without complex mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the implant allows height adjustment, then adaptability improves, but the spinal cord canal cannot be securely protected against renewed narrowing
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented design with inner and outer baskets provides structural stability while enabling height adjustment. The outer basket maintains a stable position for spinal cord protection, while the inner basket can move to adjust height, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an implant device, comprising an actuating instrument and a height-adjustable implant having a substantially U-shaped inner basket (11) and a U-shaped outer basket (60), wherein the inner basket (11) of the implant is embraced by the outer basket (60) and telescopically guided, and the inner basket (11) and outer basket (60) are equally aligned, and wherein the limb of the inner basket (11) and the limb (61) of the outer basket (60) are aligned so that a substantially continuous lateral opening results, and the inner (11) and outer (60) baskets can be fixed with respect to each other in a predetermined end position, and wherein vertebral support surfaces are provided on the end faces of the baskets (11, 60), wherein the actuating instrument has a fixation rod (111) and an expansion mechanism with sliding elements (122), and the inner basket (11) and fixation rod (111) have corresponding elements, by means of which a detachable, rigid connection between the fixation rod (111) and inner basket (11) is achieved, and wherein by actuating the expansion mechanism on the actuating instrument, the outer basket (60) can be moved in the longitudinal direction by the engagement of the sliding elements (122) at the limbs (61) opposite the inner basket (11).