Spinal Stabilization System With Dynamic Bone Screw Head
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal stabilization systems require significant instrumentation and effort for inserting and securing spinal rods, which can lead to long-term health risks due to the permanent attachment of hardware, and there is a need for an implantable device that provides support with a low profile.
Innovation Solution
A spinal stabilization system comprising a spinal rod, a bone screw with a head portion transitionable between two diameters, a plate with a throughhole and slots, and a set screw that expands the throughhole to secure the rod, allowing for easy adjustment and secure fixation with minimal profile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional spinal stabilization systems use significant instrumentation for inserting and securing spinal rods, then the spinal column can be stabilized, but the complexity and time required for procedures increases, and long-term health risks increase due to permanent hardware attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The spinal stabilization system is divided into separate functional components: a bone screw with head portion for vertebral anchoring, a rod for structural support, and a set screw for securing the rod. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall assembly process compared to monolithic instrumentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The bone screw head portion is designed to be transitionable between a first diameter and a second diameter, allowing it to dynamically adjust its size. This dynamic capability enables the head to transition from an expanded state during insertion to a collapsed state for final securing, reducing the profile and simplifying the stabilization process.
2Reliability
If traditional spinal stabilization systems use significant instrumentation for securing spinal rods, then the spinal column can be stabilized, but the time required for procedures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bone screw is pre-formed with a threaded distal portion for vertebral anchoring and a head portion designed to receive the rod. The set screw is pre-configured with threads that engage the bone screw's threaded lumen. This preliminary preparation of components allows for rapid assembly during surgery without requiring complex intraoperative fabrication or adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic transition capability of the bone screw head portion between expanded and collapsed diameters allows the surgeon to quickly secure the rod in place. The head can be expanded during insertion to facilitate easy placement, then collapsed to secure the rod firmly, reducing the time required compared to static instrumentation that requires multiple separate steps.
3Reliability
If traditional spinal stabilization systems use permanent hardware attachment, then the spinal column can be stabilized, but tissue irritation and damage increase due to long-term presence
Solution Approach 1:
The bone screw head portion's ability to transition between expanded and collapsed diameters allows it to minimize its profile in the final secured state. This dynamic reduction in size reduces the amount of permanent hardware visible in the soft tissue, thereby reducing long-term tissue irritation and damage while maintaining stable spinal fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The rod is nested within the bone screw head portion during the securing process. The set screw engages the threaded lumen of the bone screw to lock the rod in place, creating a compact nested structure that minimizes the overall profile and reduces tissue irritation compared to traditional external fixation hardware.
4Manufacturing precision
If the throughhole is in expanded configuration, then the first slot diameter decreases for securing the spinal rod, but the head portion diameter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bone screw head portion is designed with dynamic transition capability between a first diameter (expanded) and a second diameter (collapsed). When the throughhole is in the expanded configuration to facilitate rod insertion, the head portion can be in the expanded state to provide adequate space. After rod securing, the head transitions to the collapsed state to minimize profile, while the slot maintains its reduced diameter for secure rod retention.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system reduces the complexity and time required for spinal stabilization procedures, minimizing tissue irritation and damage while providing stable support with a low profile, thus reducing long-term health risks associated with permanent instrumentation.
Implementation Method 1
Rotation of the set screw relative to the bone screw advances the set screw
Implementation Method 2
The bone screw includes a head portion and a threaded distal portion extending therefrom
Implementation Method 3
The throughhole is transitionable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, such that a diameter of the throughhole in the expanded configuration is greater than the diameter of the throughhole in the collapsed configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A spinal stabilization system includes a spinal rod, a plate, a set screw, and a bone screw. The plate includes a throughhole transitionable between a collapsed and expanded configuration, and a first slot adapted to receive a spinal rod therein. The set screw includes a distal portion having threads to engage with a threaded lumen of a bone screw, and the bone screw including a head portion transitionable between a first diameter and a second diameter. The head of the bone screw insertable into the throughhole and cooperatively transitions between the first diameter and the collapsed configuration to the second diameter and expanded configuration, respectively, as the set screw advances with respect to the bone screw to lock the spinal rod into the slot of the plate in the second diameter and expanded configuration.