Combined Spinal Interbody Spacer and Plate Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a spinal spacer that remains in place after implantation and provides stabilization and torsional resistance to promote fusion between adjacent vertebrae, while also accommodating vertebral movement and load distribution.
Innovation Solution
A combined spinal interbody spacer and plate assembly that allows for dynamic adjustment and attachment to vertebrae, featuring rotatable and translateable spine plates with ratchet mechanisms to secure the spacer in place and facilitate vertebral alignment and fusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the spinal plate is made static or fixed relative to the interbody spacer, then the spacer remains securely in place, but it cannot accommodate vertebral movement and load distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The spinal plate is designed with dynamic capabilities including rotation about a pin and translation along the pin, allowing the plate to adapt to vertebral movement while maintaining secure attachment. This transforms the fixed connection into a controlled dynamic system that provides both stability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spinal plate is divided into first and second plate portions that can rotate independently about a common pin. This segmentation allows each portion to move independently to accommodate vertebral dynamics while the overall assembly maintains structural integrity and secure positioning.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the spinal plate is made rotatable and translateable, then it can accommodate vertebral movement, but the complexity of the assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation and translation functions are merged into a single pin mechanism that serves dual purposes. The pin enables both rotational movement between plate portions and translational movement of the entire plate assembly, reducing the number of separate components needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The pin serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a rotation axis for the plate portions, a translation guide for the plate assembly, and a retention mechanism through the interbody spacer. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity while achieving the desired adaptability.
3Reliability
If the pin allows anterior/posterior sliding motion, then the spacer position remains stable during plate rotation, but the mechanism for securing the plate becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The retention function is merged with the existing pin structure. The interbody spacer incorporates retention features that work with the pin to prevent removal while allowing the necessary sliding motion, eliminating the need for separate retention mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A spinal implant assembly combines a spinal interbody spacer with a spine plate. The combined spacer and plate assembly provides stabilization and torsional resistance to promote fusion of adjacent vertebrae. The spacer is configured for placement within an intervertebral space between the adjacent vertebrae previously occupied by a spinal disc. The plate is configured for attachment to anterior sides of the adjacent vertebrae. Translation of the spinal plate allows it to be affixed to the vertebrae in various positions and/or allow movement post installation. In one form, the plate is defined by first and second spine plate or plate portions that are coupled to one another to allow rotation about each other. Ends of the first and second spine plates are received in/by the interbody spacer, while a pin extends through the interbody spacer to fix the first and second spine plates to the interbody spacer.