Spinal Rod Guidance Extensions for Scoliosis Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical techniques for correcting spinal deformities, such as scoliosis, often require bending rods to fit the abnormal curvature of the spine, leading to rod fracture and other complications, and lack methods to correct spinal deformity by bending the vertebrate to conform to an idealized rod shape without weakening the rod.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a plurality of screws implanted in vertebrae with removably coupled extensions and a connecting element or rod that is guided along these extensions to adjust and engage with screw heads, allowing the vertebrate to move laterally and conform to an idealized curvature without bending the rod.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the rod is bent to fit the abnormal curvature of the spine, then the rod can be installed, but the rod strength is reduced and fracture risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverod installationVSAvoidrod strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of bending the rod to fit the spine curvature, the invention inverts the approach by using curved extensions that guide a straight rod into place. The extensions are configured with curvatures matching the patient's spinal deformity, allowing the rod to remain straight and strong while still achieving proper spinal alignment through the guiding action of the curved extensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The curved extensions serve as intermediary elements between the straight rod and the curved spine. These extensions are removably coupled to pedicle screws and configured with specific curvatures that match the patient's spinal deformity, acting as guides that direct the straight rod into the correct position without requiring the rod itself to be bent.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If traditional spinal fusion techniques are used, then spinal alignment can be corrected, but the rod may fracture due to bending

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespinal alignment correctionVSAvoidrod reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention reverses the traditional approach by not bending the rod to match spinal curvature. Instead, curved extensions are used as guides to direct a straight rod into the correct position, thereby achieving precise spinal alignment correction while maintaining rod integrity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The curved extensions are pre-configured with curvatures that match the patient's specific spinal deformity before surgery. This preliminary configuration allows the extensions to guide the straight rod into the correct position during surgery, achieving precise alignment without requiring post-installation rod bending that would compromise reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the rod is bent during surgery, then it can accommodate the spinal curvature, but the risk of rod fracture increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverod adaptability to spinal curvatureVSAvoidrod fracture risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than adapting the rod to the spinal curvature by bending it, the invention inverts the approach by using curved extensions that adapt to the patient's specific spinal deformity. These extensions guide a straight rod into place, providing the necessary adaptability to various spinal curvatures while maintaining rod strength and minimizing fracture risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The curved extensions are customized with specific curvatures and configurations that match the patient's local spinal deformity characteristics. This local quality approach allows each extension to be precisely adapted to the patient's anatomy at that specific location, enabling rod placement without bending while maintaining overall rod reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20250387143A1Systems, devices and methods for treating a lateral curvature of a spine

Publication Date: 2025.12.25 SPINE23 INC

AI summary

A system for correcting a lateral curvature of a spine that can include a plurality of screws configured to be implanted in a plurality of vertebrae, and a plurality of extensions configured to be removably coupled with the plurality of screws. Some embodiments of the plurality of extensions can be curved, bent, angled, and/or offset along at least a portion thereof and can be removably coupled with a screw head of each of the plurality of screws. The system can include a connecting element or rod that is configured to be coupled with the plurality of screw heads. Some embodiments of the system can be configured such that the rod can be guided along the plurality of extensions from the proximal toward the distal end portions of the extensions and into engagement with the plurality of screws to cause the plurality of vertebrae to move laterally.