Spinal Plate Bender Actuation Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The variability in human spinal columns, particularly in size and shape, poses challenges for spinal fusion procedures, as existing spinal plates require a large inventory of different sizes and can cause stress concentrations leading to bone fractures and implant migration due to the need for drilling holes for fixation.
Innovation Solution
A spinal plate bender with an actuation assembly, collet, and head portion that allows for the bending of spinal plates to match individual spinal configurations, featuring a lever, linkage, and anvil mechanism to impart axial displacement and shape the plate accurately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a large inventory of different sized plates is carried to accommodate spinal column variability, then adaptability to different patients is improved, but device complexity and inventory management become worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The spinal plate is designed with adjustable parameters including modular segments that can be configured in different lengths and configurations. The plate system allows parameter changes to match various spinal column sizes through selective combination of modular components rather than maintaining separate plates for each size.
Solution Approach 2:
A universal plate design is implemented that can accommodate multiple spinal levels and size variations through a single standardized plate type. The plate incorporates universal features such as standardized screw hole patterns and adjustable positioning mechanisms that allow one plate design to serve multiple patient anatomies.
2Stability of the object's composition
If holes are drilled into vertebrae for screw fixation, then spinal plate stability is improved, but bone fracture risk and stress concentration become worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical technique involves preliminary preparation of the vertebral surface through decortication or roughening before screw insertion. This preliminary action creates compressive contact between the screw threads and bone surface, distributing stresses more evenly and reducing the risk of fracture while maintaining fixation stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Screw design parameters are optimized including thread geometry, pitch, and diameter to distribute loading more evenly across the vertebral bone. The screw parameters are specifically designed to reduce stress concentration at the bone-screw interface while maintaining adequate fixation strength.
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 precise bending of spinal plates to fit individual spinal anatomy, reducing the need for multiple plate sizes and minimizing stress concentrations, thereby enhancing surgical outcomes and reducing complications such as bone fractures and implant migration.
Implementation Method 1
The anvil portion is configured to engage a spinal plate to cause bending of a spinal plate supported in the head portion
Implementation Method 2
The lever is transitionable between a neutral position and an actuated position, which, imparts axial displacement to the actuation shaft
Implementation Method 3
The actuation assembly includes a housing, a lever pivotably coupled to the housing
Data Source
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AI summary
A spinal plate bender (100) includes an actuation assembly (200), a collet (300) and a head portion (400). The actuation assembly includes a housing, a lever pivotably coupled to the housing, a linkage pivotably coupled to the lever, and an actuation shaft operatively coupled with the linkage. The lever is transtionable between a neutral position and an actuated position, which, imparts axial displacement to the actuation shaft. The collet includes a proximal section, a sleeve section extending distally from the proximal section, and a coupling section extending distally from the sleeve section. The head portion is configured to support a spinal plate. The head portion is detachably coupled to the coupling section of the collet. The head portion includes an anvil portion coupled to a distal end portion of the actuation shaft. The anvil portion is configured to engage a spinal plate to cause bending of a spinal plate supported in the head portion.