Spinal Tethers with Strength Limits for Vertebral Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating spinal deformities, such as scoliosis, often apply excessive force to vertebral members, risking damage, and lack mechanisms to prevent such forces from causing injury.
Innovation Solution
The use of tethers with built-in strength limits that attach to vertebral members via anchors, applying a controlled force to correct spinal alignment and incorporating release mechanisms to prevent excessive force, such as breaking or detaching, to safeguard against damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If tethers are used to apply force to vertebral members to correct spinal deformities, then alignment correction is improved, but risk of damage from excessive force increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tether's mechanical properties are changed by incorporating a strength limit that allows it to withstand forces up to a predetermined threshold but fail or release when excessive force is applied. This parameter change enables the tether to provide corrective force while automatically preventing damage from over-tensioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The tether acts as an intermediary element between the anchors attached to vertebral members, transmitting controlled corrective forces while the built-in strength limit serves as a safety mechanism. The tether mediates the force transmission and prevents direct application of potentially damaging forces to the vertebral structure.
2Productivity
If tethers apply strong force to correct deformities quickly, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but safety of vertebral members deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tether is designed with a specific strength limit parameter that balances the need for effective deformity correction with the safety of vertebral members. The strength limit is calibrated to allow sufficient force for correction while preventing forces that would cause damage, thus simultaneously addressing productivity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The built-in strength limit of the tether provides beforehand cushioning by being designed to fail or release at a predetermined force threshold before excessive force can be applied to the vertebral members. This preventive measure ensures safety is built into the system from the outset rather than added as a separate protective layer.
3Strength
If tethers are designed with high strength to prevent breaking, then durability is improved, but risk of vertebral damage from excessive force increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tether's strength parameter is deliberately limited to a predetermined value that is sufficient for correcting spinal deformities but below the threshold that would cause damage to vertebral members. This parameter optimization ensures the tether is strong enough to be durable and effective while inherently preventing excessive force application.
Solution Approach 2:
The potential harm of excessive tether strength causing vertebral damage is converted into a benefit by designing the strength limit as a safety feature. The tether's limited strength, which might initially seem like a weakness, actually protects the vertebral members from over-tensioning while still providing sufficient corrective force for effective treatment.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application is directed to tethers and methods of use for reducing and/or eliminating spinal deformities. Tethers may be attached with anchors to extend between two or more vertebral members. The tethers may apply a force to the vertebral members to treat the spinal deformity. The tethers may include a strength limit to prevent an excessive amount of force from being applied that could damage the vertebral members. In one embodiment, the tether may release such as by breaking, expanding, or separating from the anchors if the force exceeds a strength limit.