Spinal Screw Placement Guidance Using Real-Time Orientation Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current spinal fusion procedures face challenges in accurately placing screws due to the freehand method, leading to potential patient injury and increased costs from corrective surgeries and radiation exposure from conventional methods.

Innovation Solution

A system providing real-time orientation data through a medical device equipped with an electrical component and a display device, allowing for precise placement of medical devices like pedicle finders or pedicle screwdrivers, reducing radiation exposure and operation time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If freehand method is used for screw placement, then procedure cost is reduced, but placement accuracy deteriorates leading to patient injury and corrective surgeries

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescrew placement accuracyVSAvoidguidance system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical guidance systems with an electrical sensing system. The electrical component detects pedicle wall contact through electrical impedance changes, substituting mechanical touch sensors or complex mechanical stop mechanisms with a simpler electrical detection approach that provides accurate placement feedback without adding mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an electrical component as an intermediary between the surgeon and the screw placement process. This intermediary provides real-time feedback about pedicle wall contact through electrical signal detection, enabling accurate placement without requiring complex mechanical guidance structures or multiple surgical instruments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If radiological imaging is used to observe screw placement, then placement accuracy is improved, but radiation exposure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescrew placement accuracyVSAvoidradiation exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces radiological imaging systems with an electrical detection system. Instead of using X-rays or fluoroscopy to visualize screw placement, the electrical component directly detects contact with pedicle walls through electrical impedance measurements, eliminating radiation exposure while maintaining placement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The electrical component performs self-detection of placement accuracy by measuring electrical impedance changes when contacting bone tissue. The system serves its own guidance function without requiring external imaging equipment, providing real-time feedback that eliminates the need for radiological monitoring during the procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If conventional guidance devices are used, then placement accuracy is improved, but device cost increases and reusability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescrew placement accuracyVSAvoiddevice cost and reusability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical component is designed as a cost-effective, potentially disposable element that can be easily manufactured and integrated into standard surgical instruments. The simplicity of the electrical sensing mechanism allows for economical production compared to complex mechanical guidance devices, enabling single-use configurations that eliminate sterilization requirements while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The electrical component can be integrated into various surgical instruments including pedicle finders, screwdrivers, and probes, providing universal guidance functionality across multiple tools. This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized expensive devices for each instrument, allowing a single electrical component design to serve multiple surgical purposes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3585321B1Systems for advanced medical device placement and usage

Publication Date: 2025.10.15 DIGNITY HEALTH

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AI summary

Systems and methods for providing orientation data to a user during a medical procedure performed on a subject are provided. The system can include a medical device, an electrical component and a display device. The medical device is configured to engage a portion the subject and includes a handle. The electrical component is disposed within the handle and is configured to generate data related to an orientation of the medical device during the medical procedure. The display device is physically separate from the medical device and in communication the electrical component. The display device also includes a processor configured to receive and process the data related to the orientation of the medical device, and display information related to the orientation of the medical device to the user based on the data.