Spinal Implant Receiver With Polymeric Surface and Dynamic Cap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal implant systems for treating disorders such as scoliosis and degenerative disc disease often fail to provide effective stabilization and alignment, leading to incomplete relief of symptoms and potential for further spinal deformity due to inadequate stabilization and growth limitations in growing patients.
Innovation Solution
A spinal implant system featuring an implant receiver with a polymeric surface that allows for slidable engagement of spinal rods, providing reduced wear and interference, and a cap that securely attaches to the receiver, enabling dynamic axial translation and growth guidance while maintaining spinal alignment and stabilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional spinal implant systems are used for stabilization, then spinal alignment can be maintained, but wear debris is generated and growth is limited in growing patients
Solution Approach 1:
A polymeric component is introduced as an intermediary between the spinal rod and the implant receiver. This polymeric mediator reduces direct metal-to-metal contact, thereby minimizing wear debris generation while maintaining the structural integrity and stabilization function of the spinal implant system.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant receiver is designed with a cap that can be selectively opened and closed, allowing the spinal rod to be inserted and removed. This dynamic design enables growth guidance in pediatric patients by allowing periodic adjustments while maintaining spinal stabilization, unlike fixed traditional systems.
2Reliability
If fixed spinal implants are used for stabilization, then alignment is maintained, but adaptability to growth and movement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a dynamic cap mechanism that can be opened and closed to allow spinal rod insertion and removal. This enables periodic adjustments for growth guidance in pediatric patients while maintaining spinal alignment during the closed state, providing both stability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spinal rod is nested within the implant receiver cavity, allowing the rod to be contained and secured while still permitting controlled movement and adjustment. The cap acts as an outer shell that can be opened to access the nested rod, enabling growth accommodation while maintaining alignment.
3Reliability
If traditional implant receivers are used, then spinal stabilization is achieved, but ease of operation during assembly and adjustment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is designed to be selectively openable and closable, allowing surgeons to easily insert and remove the spinal rod without complex instrumentation. This dynamic access mechanism significantly improves ease of operation during assembly and potential future adjustments while maintaining secure stabilization when closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant receiver is segmented into a main body and a removable cap. This segmentation allows independent manipulation of each component, enabling simple insertion and removal of the spinal rod by simply opening the cap, thereby improving ease of operation during surgical procedures.
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
The system effectively stabilizes the spine, allows for longitudinal growth, and reduces wear debris, providing improved symptom relief and maintaining spinal alignment and stabilization, especially in growing patients, while accommodating dynamic spinal movements.
Implementation Method 1
The inner surface includes a polymer such that the spinal rod is slidably engageable with the inner surface
Data Source
AI summary
An implant receiver includes a member having an inner surface defining an implant cavity configured for disposal of a spinal implant and an outer surface. A cap includes a mating surface connectable with the outer surface such that the cap is fixed with the member and the implant is movable relative to the inner surface. In some embodiments, implants, systems, instruments and methods are disclosed.