Integrated Spinal Instrument for Reduction and Distraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical instruments for spine surgery, particularly in treating spondylolisthesis, require multiple instruments for distraction, compression, and reduction, leading to reduced visibility and efficiency during procedures, especially when dealing with complex spinal alignments and large patients.

Innovation Solution

A surgical instrument integrating mechanisms for reduction, distraction, and compression, featuring a reducer knob, reducer tube, connecting element, common handle, and compressor handle, allowing for simultaneous distraction and reduction without the need to switch instruments, with locking mechanisms to maintain vertebral alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple instruments are used for distraction, compression, and reduction separately, then each function can be performed with dedicated instrumentation, but surgical efficiency decreases and visibility is reduced due to instrument switching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional versatilityVSAvoidsurgical efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines distraction, compression, and reduction functions into a single integrated surgical instrument. The device integrates a distraction mechanism with a reduction mechanism, allowing surgeons to perform multiple functions without switching instruments. The common handle and shaft structure enables both distraction (separating vertebrae) and reduction (realigning vertebrae) operations with one tool, directly resolving the contradiction between functional versatility and surgical efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical instrument is designed as a universal tool that can perform distraction, compression, and reduction functions. The device includes a distractor handle for distraction, a compressor handle for compression, and a reducer tube for reduction, all integrated into a single instrument with a common handle. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for multiple separate instruments while maintaining all necessary capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple instruments are used for distraction and reduction, then comprehensive spinal alignment correction is achieved, but procedural time increases due to instrument switching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespinal alignment precisionVSAvoidprocedural time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated instrument enables continuous spinal alignment correction without interruption for instrument switching. The device maintains continuous engagement with the spinal instrumentation system, allowing distraction, compression, and reduction to be performed in a continuous sequence on the same instrument platform, eliminating downtime between functions and reducing total procedural time while maintaining alignment precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If multiple instruments are used for distraction, compression, and reduction, then comprehensive spinal stabilization is achieved, but the number of instruments increases leading to reduced visibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespinal stabilization reliabilityVSAvoidinstrumentation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple instrumentation functions into a single device, reducing the total number of separate instruments from three (distraction, compression, reduction) to one integrated unit. The common handle and shaft structure consolidates the instrumentation complexity while maintaining all necessary functions for reliable spinal stabilization through distraction, compression, and reduction capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9066763B2Surgical instrument with integrated reduction and distraction mechanisms

Publication Date: 2015.06.30 HIGHRIDGE MEDICAL LLC

AI summary

Embodiments of a surgical instrument disclosed herein can include mechanisms for reduction and distraction as well as compression. Some embodiments of the surgical instrument may comprise a reducer knob having a first passage through which a first shaft of a driver is acceptable, a connecting element coupled to the reducer knob and having a second passage through which the first shaft of the driver is acceptable, a compressor handle coupled to the connecting element at a first end and having a through hole, and a common handle coupled to the compressor handle via the through hole and pivots between the reducer knob and the compressor handle. With embodiments of a surgical instrument disclosed herein, surgical personnel can distract and hold vertebrae in a distracted state and perform a reduction without having to switch or add instruments. Some embodiments disclosed herein can be particularly useful for reducing spondylolisthesis during posterior fixation.