Spinal Reducer Instrument for Minimally Invasive Vertebral Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spinal stabilization procedures often result in significant trauma to soft tissue due to large incisions and muscle stripping, leading to prolonged recovery times and nerve pressure issues from altered vertebral spacing.
Innovation Solution
A minimally invasive spinal stabilization system using a kit with instruments and components that include bone fastener assemblies, elongated members, and closure members, allowing for rigid pedicle fixation while minimizing tissue damage, with a reducer mechanism to adjust vertebral spacing and secure elongated members in collars without direct access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional spinal stabilization procedures are used with large incisions and muscle stripping, then access to the spine is achieved for stabilization, but significant trauma to soft tissue occurs leading to prolonged recovery times
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical approach is segmented into multiple small incisions rather than one large incision. The incision is divided into a first portion for inserting the bone fastener assembly and a second portion for inserting the reducer, allowing minimally invasive access to the spine while maintaining surgical effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The reducer is inserted through the second portion of the incision and positioned within the surgical site. The elongated member is then inserted through the reducer, which acts as a guide and delivery mechanism, nesting one instrument within another to minimize incision size and tissue disruption.
2Reliability
If conventional procedures with large incisions are used, then spinal stabilization can be performed, but recovery time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The procedure uses segmented, minimally invasive access points that preserve surrounding muscle and soft tissue integrity. This segmentation allows the stabilization to be achieved while minimizing collateral damage, directly reducing postoperative recovery time compared to conventional open approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
TheReducer acts as an intermediary instrument that delivers the elongated member through a minimal incision. This intermediary mechanism enables precise placement of stabilization components without requiring wide exposure, thereby maintaining stabilization reliability while minimizing tissue trauma and accelerating recovery.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If minimally invasive procedures are used, then tissue trauma is reduced, but access to collars for securing elongated members becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The reducer serves as an intermediary instrument that provides access to the collar through the minimal incision. It acts as a delivery channel and manipulation tool, allowing the surgeon to insert and position the elongated member within the collar without requiring direct visual or manual access to the collar itself, thus resolving the access difficulty while maintaining minimally invasive benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The elongated member is nested within the reducer during insertion. The reducer is inserted first through the small incision, positioned to access the collar, and then the elongated member is inserted through the reducer into the collar. This nested approach allows securement of the elongated member to the collar while maintaining minimal tissue disruption.
4Stability of the object's composition
If conventional stabilization systems are used, then spinal stability is achieved, but vertebral spacing is altered causing nerve pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The reducer enables real-time adjustment of vertebral spacing during the procedure. By allowing the surgeon to insert and manipulate the elongated member through the reducer, the system provides feedback capability to maintain proper vertebral alignment and spacing, preventing nerve compression while achieving spinal stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic adjustment of vertebral positioning during surgery. The reducer facilitates controlled manipulation of the elongated member to achieve and maintain optimal vertebral spacing, enabling the spine to be stabilized without altering natural spacing that would compress nerves.
Data Source
AI summary
A spinal stabilization system may be formed in a patient. In some embodiments, a minimally invasive procedure may be used to form a spinal stabilization system in a patient. Bone fastener assemblies may be coupled to vertebrae. Each bone fastener assembly may include a bone fastener and a collar. The collar may be rotated and/or angulated relative to the bone fastener. Extenders may be coupled to the collar to allow for formation of the spinal stabilization system through a small skin incision. The extenders may allow for alignment of the collars to facilitate insertion of an elongated member in the collars. An elongated member may be positioned in the collars and a closure member may be used to secure the elongated member to the collars. A reducer may be used to achieve reduction of one or more vertebral bodies coupled to a spinal stabilization system.