Spinal Implant Oblique Insertion Anti-Migration Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spinal implants often subside into the surrounding environment after implantation, leading to loosening or damage of vertebral bodies, and require invasive surgical approaches that can cause tissue damage and complications, especially in cases where prior implants or obstacles are present.

Innovation Solution

The development of spinal implants configured for an oblique angular approach, featuring anti-migration and anti-rotation designs, visualization markers, and fixation elements with anti-backout features, allowing for minimally invasive insertion and maximizing endplate coverage while promoting sagittal balance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If rigid fixation is used to secure the implant to vertebral bodies, then immediate stability is achieved, but implant subsidence causes loosening or damage to vertebral bodies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplant stabilityVSAvoidvertebral body integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The implant incorporates a cushioning element positioned between the fixation elements and the vertebral bodies. This cushioning element anticipates and absorbs the subsidence force before it can damage the vertebral bodies, thereby maintaining both implant stability and vertebral body integrity simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Ease of operation

If midline or lateral surgical approaches are used to access the spine, then direct access to vertebral bodies is achieved, but tissue damage and complications increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical accessVSAvoidtissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The implant is designed to be accessed through a narrow corridor approach that utilizes a different surgical dimension/pathway compared to traditional midline or lateral approaches. This allows surgeons to reach the target vertebral bodies through a less invasive route, reducing tissue damage while maintaining surgical accessibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If prior implants or obstacles are present in the spine, then surgical complexity increases, but access to implantation site is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical pathway flexibilityVSAvoidsurgical procedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The implant design allows for segmented or modular insertion techniques that can navigate around prior implants or obstacles. The surgical approach can be divided into manageable segments that work around existing structures, maintaining flexibility in pathway selection while managing procedural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3280361B1Spinal implants configured for tissue sparing angle of insertion

Publication Date: 2023.03.22 CENTINEL SPINE LLC

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Figure 1C~1D
Figure 1E~1F

AI summary

Spinal implants that are configured for a minimally invasive approach to a patient's intervertebral disc space, optimized to avoid blood vessels and nervous tissue, maximizing endplate coverage and promoting sagittal balance, are provided. Insertion and fixation can be accomplished through a narrow access window, thereby allowing better access to more spinal levels while being less invasive than other approaches. The spinal implants may facilitate fusion, and include visualization features to assist in the implantation and verify proper placement and vary segmental angle of lordosis. Methods of implanting the spinal implants to treat a patient's spine are also disclosed.