Percutaneous Spinal Implants with Nested Retention Mechanisms
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current minimally-invasive spinal procedures for treating spinal stenosis are limited by the inability to reposition or remove surgical implants without large incisions and are not suitable for severely compressed spinous processes, posing risks and complications.
Innovation Solution
A medical device with a support member and retention members that can be configured to be inserted percutaneously between adjacent spinous processes, allowing for expansion and repositioning by transitioning between first and second configurations, thereby limiting lateral movement and enabling minimally-invasive implantation, repositioning, and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If minimally-invasive procedures are used to implant spinal devices, then patient trauma and complications are reduced, but the ability to reposition or remove implants is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The retention members are nested within the support member during insertion through a minimally-invasive percutaneous approach. After implantation, the retention members can be extended outward from the support member to engage the spinous processes, providing secure anchoring while maintaining the benefit of small initial incisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention members are designed to be movable between a retracted configuration (nested within the support member) and an extended configuration (protruding to engage spinous processes). This dynamic capability allows the same device to enable both minimally-invasive insertion and subsequent repositioning or removal through the same small incision.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If known minimally-invasive procedures are used, then large incisions are avoided, but the procedures are not suitable for severely compressed spinous processes
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into a support member and separate retention members that can be independently positioned. The retention members can be extended to engage severely compressed spinous processes that may not be accessible during insertion, providing adaptability to various anatomical conditions while maintaining minimally-invasive access.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention members provide engagement in a dimension perpendicular to the insertion path. This allows the device to secure onto spinous processes that are severely compressed or difficult to reach during the initial percutaneous insertion, adding a degree of freedom to the anchoring mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If traditional surgical procedures are used, then implants can be easily repositioned or removed, but patient trauma and hospital stays increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed to perform multiple functions through the same small incision: initial implantation, subsequent repositioning, and eventual removal. The movable retention members enable all these operations to be conducted percutaneously, eliminating the need for large incisions during follow-up procedures and reducing hospital stay time.
Data Source
AI summary
Spinal implants and methods for the placement thereof are disclosed herein. In one variation, the implant includes a support member, a proximal retention member, and a distal retention member. The support member is configured to be disposed between adjacent spinous processes. The proximal retention member has a first configuration in which the proximal retention member is substantially disposed within a proximal portion of the support member, and a second configuration in which a portion of the proximal retention member is disposed outside of the support member. The distal retention member has a first configuration in which the distal retention member is substantially disposed within a distal portion of the support member, and a second configuration in which a portion of the distal retention member is disposed outside of the support member.