Spinal Spacer Cam Actuator Deployment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal stabilization technologies, such as pedicle screw-based systems and interspinous spacers, are invasive, prone to implant migration, and do not adequately maintain natural spinal biomechanics, leading to reduced mobility and potential pseudarthrosis.
Innovation Solution
A spinal spacer device with a hook member and post system that includes a cam surface and actuator, allowing for deployment and stabilization between vertebrae with reduced tissue disruption, featuring a stowed and deployed configuration to minimize invasiveness and prevent migration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pedicle screw-based systems are used for spinal stabilization, then stabilization effectiveness is improved, but surgical invasiveness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the stabilization function from the complex pedicle screw system and concentrates it into a simple interspinous spacer device. The spacer is inserted through a small posterior incision between the spinous processes, avoiding the need for pedicle screw insertion and extensive tissue dissection, thus reducing surgical invasiveness while maintaining stabilization effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is segmented into distinct functional components: a body portion that engages with the spinous processes, a spacer element that maintains spacing between vertebrae, and a wire or suture that secures the device. This segmentation allows for simplified implantation while achieving the same stabilization goal as pedicle screws.
2Stability of the object's composition
If hard or solid interspinous spacers are used, then structural stability is improved, but tissue disruption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer element is designed with differentiated local properties: the body portion is made of rigid material to provide structural stability and engage with spinous processes, while the spacer element itself can be made of softer, more compliant material to reduce tissue disruption during insertion and while maintaining the necessary spacing function.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If compliant interspinous spacers are used, then tissue disruption is reduced, but implant migration susceptibility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two segments with different material properties: the body portion is rigid to prevent migration and provide anchorage, while the spacer element can be compliant to reduce tissue disruption. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The wire or suture acts as an intermediary element that connects the rigid body portion to the compliant spacer element, allowing the spacer to be compliant enough to reduce tissue disruption while the wire provides the necessary retention to prevent migration.
4Reliability
If fusion surgery is performed, then pain relief is improved, but range of motion decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of fusing the vertebrae (which eliminates motion), the invention uses the interspinous spacer to maintain and preserve the natural motion between vertebrae. The spacer provides pain relief by offloading the disc while allowing the spine to continue moving naturally, converting the harmful effect of disc degeneration into a beneficial preservation of motion.
Data Source
AI summary
Spinal spacers for cervical and other vertebra, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A device in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a hook member having a hook positioned to extend in a first direction, a post carried by the hook member and extending axially in a second direction transverse to the first direction, and a cam surface carried by the hook member. An actuator device is movably engaged with the post, and a spinal spacer is pivotably coupled to one of the actuator device and the post. The spinal spacer is axially movable relative to the hook member and has a spacing element in contact with the cam surface to pivot outwardly away from the post as the actuator device moves.