Spinal Implant Insertion Device Segmented Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing instruments for inserting spinal implants are difficult to disassemble for cleaning, which complicates their reuse and maintenance, especially since they have multiple moving parts that require proper handling to avoid damage.
Innovation Solution
A spinal implant insertion device with an elongated body, a distal anchor, a proximal anchor, and an actuation plunger that can be easily assembled and disassembled, featuring a plunger stop and spike cap drive mechanism for deploying blades, allowing for efficient deployment and retraction of the implant during use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the insertion instrument has several moving parts to enable effective deployment of the implant, then the functionality and reliability of the device is improved, but the ease of cleaning and maintenance deteriorates due to difficulty in disassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion instrument is divided into multiple separable components including a handle assembly, a body assembly, and a plunger assembly that can be easily disassembled from one another. This segmentation allows each component to be independently cleaned and maintained while preserving the complex moving parts needed for reliable implant deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The plunger assembly is designed to be extractable from the body assembly, and the body assembly can be separated from the handle assembly. This extraction capability enables complete disassembly for thorough cleaning of all moving parts without damaging the components, resolving the conflict between maintaining complex functionality and enabling easy cleaning.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the insertion instrument has several moving parts to enable effective deployment of the implant, then the functionality of the device is improved, but the ease of manufacture and assembly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is segmented into modular assemblies (handle, body, plunger) that can be manufactured separately and then easily assembled. This modular approach maintains the complex deployment functionality while simplifying the manufacturing process and enabling straightforward assembly of the complete instrument.
Solution Approach 2:
The plunger assembly nests within the body assembly, which in turn nests within or attaches to the handle assembly. This nested configuration allows the complex multi-component instrument to be compactly stored and easily assembled by simply nesting the components in the correct sequence, reducing assembly complexity despite the multiple moving parts.
3Ease of repair
If the insertion instrument is designed for easy disassembly to facilitate cleaning, then the ease of maintenance is improved, but the structural integrity and reliability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument uses segmented design with standardized interfaces between assemblies that maintain structural integrity during normal use but allow easy separation for cleaning. The segmentation is designed so that connection points are reinforced to prevent damage during assembly and disassembly operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument is designed with pre-configured assembly and disassembly mechanisms that guide the user through proper separation procedures before cleaning. This preliminary structuring of the disassembly process ensures that components are separated correctly without compromising structural integrity or damaging moving parts.
Data Source
AI summary
An insertion device for deploying an implant includes an elongated main body having a distal locking portion for coupling to the implant and a proximal handle portion. The main body defines a central passage and the distal locking portion has outer ridges and slots to allow the outer ridges to flex radially inward when mounting to the implant. A plunger slides in the central passage for movement between an unlocked position for mounting the implant on the distal locking portion, a locked position for locking the implant on the distal locking portion, and an insertion instrument deployed position for deploying the actuation plunger to move the blades from the stowed position to the deployed position. A spike cap drive rotatably mounts on the main body having a socket end for engaging a drive nut on the implant to, in turn, move the spike cap.