Minimally Invasive Spinal Anchoring Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing minimally invasive spinal surgery methods require the use of guidewires to secure pedicle or lateral mass screws to vertebral bodies, which can cause unnecessary damage and are not always efficient.

Innovation Solution

A minimally invasive surgical apparatus with an instrument portal, anchor pin receiving chamber, and handle that allows for direct anchoring and screwing of pedicle or lateral mass screws to vertebral masses without the need for guidewires, utilizing components like inner cannulas, anchoring pins, drill guides, and screw reducers to facilitate the procedure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If guidewires are used to secure pedicle screws or lateral mass screws to vertebral bodies, then the screws can be anchored to the vertebrae, but unnecessary tissue damage occurs and procedural efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescrew anchoring reliabilityVSAvoidtissue damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the guidewire component from the surgical procedure entirely. The self-contained anchoring device achieves screw placement without requiring a guidewire, thereby eliminating the tissue damage and procedural steps associated with guidewire insertion and removal while maintaining reliable screw anchoring to the vertebral body

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If traditional MIS systems use multiple components (guidewires, docking devices, anchors), then screw placement can be achieved, but device complexity and procedural steps increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescrew placement capabilityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple traditional components (guidewire, docking device, and anchor) into a single self-contained anchoring device. This integrated design maintains the full functionality of screw placement while reducing the number of separate components and procedural steps required, thereby simplifying the overall surgical procedure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If small incisions are used for minimally invasive surgery, then patient damage is reduced, but access to the surgical site becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient damageVSAvoidsurgical site access
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The self-contained anchoring device is designed with a segmented, modular structure that allows it to be inserted through a small incision and then deployed to achieve full functional access to the vertebral body. The device's segmented design enables it to navigate through the limited access provided by the small incision while still performing the complete anchoring function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3503817B1Minimally invasive surgical system
Publication Date: 2024.03.20 LIFE SPINE INC
  • EP3503817B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3503817B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3503817B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

Provided are systems, apparatuses, and methods for performing minimally invasive spinal surgery. For example, provided is a minimally invasive surgical apparatus for securing a pedicle screw or lateral mass screw to a vertebral lateral mass or pedicle. The example apparatus includes an instrument portal, a pedicle screw or lateral mass screw reducer, an anchor pin receiving chamber, an anchor pin, and a handle.