Spinal Rod Reduction Device with Pivoting Arms and Anvil

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Solution Overview

Problem

The process of inserting and securing a spinal rod into multiple bone anchors during spinal fusion surgery is time-consuming and labor-intensive, requiring repeated adjustments and alignment, which can be challenging for surgeons.

Innovation Solution

A rod reduction device with a housing and arms that can pivot to engage bone anchors, an anvil for inserting and securing a spinal rod, and a reduction screw for controlled advancement, allowing for efficient and precise alignment and locking of the spinal rod into bone anchors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional manual methods are used to insert and secure spinal rods into bone anchors, then the surgeon can perform the procedure with basic instruments, but the process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive requiring repeated adjustments and alignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurgical efficiencyVSAvoidsurgical time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The rod reduction device merges multiple functions into a single integrated instrument: the housing with arms provides structural support and alignment, the anvil delivers controlled reduction force, and the driver mechanism enables precise positioning. This combination eliminates the need for multiple separate instruments and repeated manual adjustments, thereby improving surgical efficiency and reducing operative time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The device is pre-configured with arms positioned to engage bone anchors and an anvil positioned to apply reduction force to the spinal rod. The driver mechanism is pre-set to provide controlled advancement. This preliminary configuration allows the surgeon to perform the rod insertion and reduction in a single continuous action rather than through multiple separate steps, significantly reducing surgical time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the surgeon manually aligns and secures the spinal rod to each bone anchor sequentially, then the procedure can be performed with simple instruments, but the alignment requires repeated adjustments and the process becomes difficult and tiresome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of rod insertionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device combines the alignment function (arms with grasping features), the reduction function (anvil with controlled force application), and the securing function (driver mechanism) into a single integrated system. This merger allows the surgeon to achieve proper rod alignment and insertion in one operation rather than through multiple separate adjustment steps, greatly easing the operational complexity despite the enhanced device features

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The arms of the device are designed to be movable and adaptable, allowing them to adjust to the specific geometry of the bone anchors and spinal rod being used. The driver mechanism provides dynamic, controlled advancement rather than rigid forced insertion. This dynamic design enables easy adaptation to different surgical scenarios without requiring complex reconfiguration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2296568B1Rod reduction device
Publication Date: 2018.04.04 K2M INC
  • EP2296568B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2296568B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2296568B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A rod reduction device includes a housing defining a longitudinal axis. The housing has first and second arms extending distally therefrom. The distal ends of the arms are configured to releasably attach to a bone anchor. An anvil is operatively associated with the first and second arms of the housing and translatable along the longitudinal axis for facilitating the insertion of a spinal rod into the bone anchor. The anvil and each arm are positionable between an open position and a closed position.