Porous Spinal Implant Granule Surface Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical implants face challenges in preventing migration within the body without interfering with their insertion, as existing surface structures may not be sufficient to securely hold them in place.
Innovation Solution
A spinal implant is designed with granules made of a different material than the implant itself, which are physically forced into the implant's surfaces using a mold with corresponding surface structures, creating bioresorbable and mechanically-reinforced properties to prevent migration by interacting with vertebral bodies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surface structures or surface roughenings are added to surgical implants to prevent migration, then the implant stability is improved, but the insertion process may be interfered with
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating surface roughenings only at specific locations (distal end and proximal end) of the implant rather than uniformly across the entire surface. This localized approach provides migration prevention at critical interfaces while maintaining smoother surfaces in regions that facilitate insertion and bonding agent application.
Solution Approach 2:
The surface roughenings are pre-formed on the implant before insertion into the patient's body. This preliminary action ensures that the migration-preventing features are already in place, allowing the implant to be inserted first and then bond to the bone without requiring additional steps during the surgical procedure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If granules are incorporated into the implant to provide bioresorbable and mechanically-reinforced properties, then the implant functionality is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the granule incorporation process with the existing implant manufacturing process. Granules are mixed with the bonding agent and applied in the same manufacturing sequence, combining multiple functions (mechanical reinforcement and bioresorbability) into a single integrated process rather than requiring separate manufacturing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant uses composite materials by incorporating granules (such as calcium phosphate or other bioresorbable materials) into the implant structure. These granules provide both mechanical reinforcement and bioresorbable properties, creating a composite material system that delivers multiple functionalities simultaneously.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The granules provide effective surface roughenings that prevent implant migration while allowing for secure insertion and eventual resorption or bone ingrowth, ensuring long-term stability and integration with the surrounding anatomy.
Implementation Method 1
heating the at least one mold portion and/or the spinal implant workpiece
Implementation Method 2
pressing the granules via physical force of the at least one surface of the at least one mold portion against the at least one of the first end surface, the second end surface, the first lateral side surface, the second lateral side surface, the upper surface, and the lower surface to incorporate the granules into the spinal implant workpiece
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical implant and a method for the making the surgical implant is provided. The surgical implant includes various granules incorporated into an upper surface and a lower surface of a body portion thereof. The granules can be pressed into the upper surface and the lower surface via physical force using at least one mold portion. The physical force applied by the at least one mold portion can deform and/or extrude the upper surface and the lower surface to impregrate these surfaces with the granules. The granules can provide the implant with bioresorbable and/or mechanically-reinforced properties.