Percutaneous Spinal Revision Connector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for revising spinal implants are invasive, requiring significant disruption or removal of existing components, leading to increased surgical time, trauma, and costs, and often result in inaccurate placement due to the complexity of multiple assemblies.
Innovation Solution
A percutaneous revision implant system that allows for the extension of existing spinal implants without removing or significantly disrupting the existing implant, using a connector with a threaded opening and a percutaneous rod, along with a new bone fastener, to be installed minimally invasively through percutaneous access sites, facilitating precise alignment and engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional revision surgery is performed with large incisions and multiple separate assemblies, then the existing implant can be revised, but surgical invasiveness and tissue damage increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The revision implant is divided into multiple separate components: a connector component with cavity and opposable walls, a rod component, and a fastener component. These segmented components can be delivered separately through percutaneous access and assembled in situ, avoiding the need for large incisions while maintaining revision effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The connector component is designed with a cavity that can receive and engage the rod component, creating a nested structure. The fastener component then secures the rod within the connector cavity. This nesting arrangement allows compact delivery through small percutaneous access sites while maintaining the structural integrity needed for effective revision
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate assemblies are used for revision, then the existing implant can be extended, but device complexity and surgical time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connector component serves multiple functions: it provides a cavity for receiving the rod, offers opposable walls for engagement, includes threaded openings for fastener attachment, and features grooves or notches for instrument engagement during delivery. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components while maintaining extension capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines the connector, rod, and fastener into an integrated revision system where these components work together as a unified assembly. The connector merges the functions of rod reception, structural support, and fastener attachment, thereby reducing overall system complexity compared to using entirely separate assemblies
3Ease of operation
If the existing implant is significantly disrupted or removed for revision, then access to the surgical site is improved, but placement accuracy and patient trauma worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The connector component acts as an intermediary that interfaces with the existing implant structure without requiring its removal or significant disruption. The cavity in the connector receives the existing rod, and the opposable walls engage with it, allowing the revision to proceed while preserving the original implant placement
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is designed with pre-formed cavities and engagement features that are prepared in advance to receive the existing rod. The grooves or notches for instrument engagement are pre-configured to guide precise placement. This preliminary preparation ensures accurate placement without needing to disrupt the existing implant
Data Source
AI summary
A percutaneous revision implant for percutaneously revising an existing implant located in the spine of a patient may include, for example, extending the existing implant construct to span additional portions of the spine of the patient. The percutaneous revision implant comprises a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The proximal end portion comprises a connector having two opposable walls joined at one end to define a cavity having a first longitudinal axis. The cavity is suitable to receive and engage a rod of the existing implant. The percutaneous revision implant of the invention permits a medical practitioner to extend an existing implant construct without significantly disrupting or removing the existing implant or its component parts. A method of using same is also provided.