Spinal Shield Lateral Extensions for Spinal Canal Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical procedures, particularly laminectomies, expose the spinal canal contents to risk of injury from mishandled instruments, with current protective devices being ineffective and cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A spinal shield with laterally extending legs and a handle for easy placement and removal, providing a protective barrier around the spinal canal, made from materials like metal, resin, or polymer, and featuring hinges for easy detachment, to prevent instrument contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective device is placed over the spinal canal to prevent instrument injury, then the safety of spinal cord and dura is improved, but the device becomes cumbersome and difficult to use
Solution Approach 1:
The protective device is divided into multiple segments or components that can be independently manipulated. The shield body can be positioned and secured separately from the lateral extensions, allowing surgeons to place and remove the device more easily while maintaining comprehensive protection over the spinal canal.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective device incorporates movable or adjustable components that allow it to adapt to different surgical positions and orientations. The lateral extensions can be positioned at various angles and depths, enabling the shield to maintain effective protection while being easily adjusted and removed during the surgical procedure.
2Reliability
If a complex protective structure is used to ensure comprehensive coverage, then the protection reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective device is designed to perform multiple functions with a single integrated structure. The shield body provides overhead protection while the lateral extensions protect the sides of the spinal canal, and the same structure also serves as a guide for instrument placement. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple separate protective components.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple protective functions are combined into a single integrated shield structure. The shield body and lateral extensions form one cohesive device that provides comprehensive protection across different orientations, eliminating the need for multiple separate protective elements and reducing overall device complexity.
3Reliability
If the shield body extends laterally to protect against instrument contact, then the protection coverage is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral protection is segmented into separate extensions that can be independently positioned and adjusted. These extensions can be placed into the lateral aspects of the spinal canal separately from the main shield body, allowing surgeons to achieve comprehensive lateral coverage while maintaining ease of placement through incremental positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of a spinal shield having a shield body including a plurality of lateral extensions configured to be positioned over an exposed spinal canal for establishing a protective barrier around the contents of the exposed spinal canal are disclosed.