Spinal Implant Retainer Deployment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal implants require wide openings and invasive posterior approaches, causing tissue damage and prolonged recovery, and fail to provide a stable solution for spinal stenosis by constricting the spinal canal and foramina.
Innovation Solution
A spinal implant with a body structure and retainers that can be inserted through a single opening, featuring a mechanism to deploy retainers from a retracted to a deployed position, securely engaging adjacent spinous processes, allowing for minimal invasive insertion and stabilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate piece implants are used requiring insertion from opposite sides, then the implant can be securely positioned between spinous processes, but the surgical approach becomes invasive requiring wide openings and extensive tissue disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into separate components: a body portion and multiple retainers that can be independently positioned. The retainers are insertable through the body portion and extend to engage opposite sides of spinous processes, achieving secure positioning without requiring wide surgical openings.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainers are nested within the body portion during insertion, allowing the entire implant assembly to pass through a single small opening. Once positioned, the retainers are deployed outward to engage the spinous processes, achieving secure fixation through a minimal invasive approach.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a single opening insertion approach is used, then tissue damage is reduced and recovery is faster, but the implant may not be held firmly in position between vertebrae
Solution Approach 1:
The retainers extend from the body portion in directions perpendicular to the insertion axis, engaging spinous processes on opposite sides. This multi-dimensional engagement configuration provides firm positioning while maintaining minimal invasive single-opening insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainers are configured with asymmetric engagement features that provide differential anchoring on opposite sides of the spinous processes, enhancing positional stability through the body portion while maintaining a compact insertion profile.
3Reliability
If multiple retainers are deployed to engage opposite sides of spinous processes, then firm positioning is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple retainers are combined into a single integrated body portion structure, where the retainers are interconnected through the common body portion. This merging approach achieves firm multi-point engagement while reducing the number of separate components requiring insertion and assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The body portion serves multiple functions: it acts as the insertion vehicle, the structural framework, and the connection point for multiple retainers. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity by eliminating the need for separate insertion tools and assembly mechanisms.
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
Enables secure stabilization of the spine with reduced tissue damage and faster recovery by allowing single-sided insertion and deployment of retainers, effectively addressing spinal stenosis without the need for extensive tissue disruption.
Implementation Method 1
An actuation tool (e.g., a screwdriver) may be used to rotate the connector. Rotation of the connector may move the first and second end portions towards each other. As the first and second end portions are moved toward each other, the retainers may be deployed from the device.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for holding a surgical instrument having a body, an instrument engagement device and a knob. The body has a proximal end, a distal end and a passageway positioned through the body. The instrument engagement device is positioned in the passageway and has at least two prongs moveable relative to each other to hold the surgical instrument therebetween. The knob is preferably positioned on the proximal end of the body and operatively associated with the at least two prongs so that movement of the knob causes movement of the prongs. The prongs may further include at least one ridge for engaging at least one slot on the surgical instrument. The knob may further comprise a cap at its proximal end positioned and designed for impact, for example, by a hammer, to facilitate movement of the surgical instrument into the patient. The knob may also include a locking mechanism to fix the position of the prongs.