Spinal Implant Support With Extender Tab Compression Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical systems for treating spinal disorders lack convenient attachment mechanisms for extender tabs, which hinders efficient manipulation and stabilization of vertebral tissue.

Innovation Solution

A surgical system with a connector and adaptor system that includes extender tabs, allowing for improved attachment and manipulation of spinal implants through a compressor/distractor mechanism, enabling parallel distraction and compression of vertebral tissue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional attachment mechanisms are used for extender tabs, then the device structure remains simple, but the ease of operation and efficiency of manipulation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of attachmentVSAvoidattachment mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment mechanism is divided into distinct modular components: the connector body with recessed cavity, the extender tab with protruding feature, and the adaptor. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while providing clear assembly guidance through complementary geometries, thereby improving ease of operation without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The adaptor serves as an intermediary component that bridges the connector and the extender tab. It provides a standardized interface that simplifies the attachment process by mediating between different geometries, making the overall system easier to operate while distributing the complexity across multiple standardized parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If manual manipulation methods are used for spinal implants, then the device complexity remains low, but the productivity and surgical efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurgical efficiencyVSAvoidmanipulation mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connector and adaptor system is designed as a universal interface that can accommodate multiple extender tab configurations and spinal implant types. This multi-functionality allows the same basic mechanism to serve various surgical needs, improving productivity across different procedures while maintaining relatively simple device architecture through standardization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The extender tabs are pre-attached to the spinal implants using the connector-adaptor mechanism before the main surgical procedure. This preliminary action prepares the implants for subsequent manipulation and positioning operations, thereby improving surgical efficiency by eliminating time-consuming intraoperative attachment steps while using a straightforward attachment device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3958759B1Surgical system
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC INC
  • EP3958759B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3958759B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3958759B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A surgical system includes an implant support engageable, in operation of the system, with a receiver of a bone fastener having a shaft fixed with vertebral tissue. The receiver being connectable to at least one extender tab. The implant support including a connector being releasably engageable with the at least one extender tab. The implant support further including an adaptor. At least a portion of the adaptor being movable relative to the connector to releasably engage a surgical instrument to distract and/or compress the vertebral tissue. Surgical instruments, constructs, implants and methods are disclosed.