Height-Adjustable Spinal Implant Bridge Support for Tilting Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional height-adjustable spinal implants suffer from unreliable load resistance, particularly during dynamic rotational loads, leading to tilting moments and material damage.
Innovation Solution
The implant design incorporates a bridge-like support element that spans the space between the access point and the toothing, providing azimuthal support radially inward of the toothing, which absorbs and transfers bearing loads, enhancing resistance to both static and dynamic loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the drive element is supported only by the first support element with the toothing accessible through a radial opening, then the structure remains compact, but the implant fails to resist dynamic rotational loads and exhibits tilting moments leading to material damage
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented into multiple functional zones: a first support area on the first support element, a second support area on the second support element, and a bridge connecting them. This segmentation allows each zone to bear specific portions of the load, distributing the mechanical stress and preventing tilting moments that cause material damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge element extends in the radial dimension to connect the first and second support elements, creating a three-dimensional support architecture. This radial extension provides additional support pathways that resist rotational loads and prevent the drive element from tilting during dynamic operation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the bridge support area is located radially inward of the toothing, then the support structure provides better load distribution, but the access point for the drive element becomes more constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure exhibits local quality differentiation: the bridge provides extensive radial support inward of the toothing for load distribution, while the toothing itself remains positioned to allow operational access. The opening in the first support element is specifically configured to permit instrument access to the toothing while the bridge structure maintains its load-bearing function in the radial inward region.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an implant, in particular for supporting the spinal column, the height of which implant can be adjusted by rotating, about an axial axis, a drive part which is supported axially with respect to a first support part and which is provided with: an external thread that interacts with an internal thread of a second support part that is axially movable with respect to the first support part but cannot be moved rotationally; and, on the axial side thereof facing the first support part, toothing that is accessible through an access that leads radially through the first support part. The implant is characterised by a support region of the support of the drive part, said support region being located azimuthally in the region of the access and in particular radially further inwards than the toothing.