Spinal Implant Web Structure for Bone Growth and Load Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spinal implants with large rims can impede bone growth, reduce the size of the bone column, and lead to uneven distribution of loads, causing regional resorption and stress risers in vertebral endplates.
Innovation Solution
The development of an implant with a web structure featuring a space truss design, including planar and space trusses, that interfaces with human bone tissue, promoting bone growth and distributing loads more evenly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If large rims are used in the implant, then the contact area between the implant and vertebral endplates is increased, but bone growth is impeded and the size of the bone column is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into multiple segments including superior and inferior rims, a body, and lateral walls. This segmentation allows the rims to provide contact area while the open body structure promotes bone growth through the implant, resolving the contradiction between contact area and bone growth promotion.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant body features an open porous structure with struts and spaces that allow bone growth through the implant. This porous design enables bone to penetrate and fuse with the implant while the rims maintain contact with vertebral endplates, simultaneously achieving both contact area and bone growth promotion.
2Area of stationary object
If large rims are used in the implant, then the contact area is increased, but load distribution becomes uneven causing regional resorption and stress risers
Solution Approach 1:
The implant body is segmented into a three-dimensional lattice structure with multiple struts connecting superior and inferior surfaces. This segmentation distributes loads through multiple load-bearing pathways, preventing stress concentration and promoting even load distribution across the vertebral endplates while maintaining rim contact area.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant combines dense rim structures for contact with porous lattice body structures for load distribution. This composite design allows the rims to provide stable contact area while the internal lattice structure distributes mechanical loads evenly, preventing regional resorption and stress risers.
3Device complexity
If open channel design is used, then the implant structure is simplified, but bone graft material cannot secure itself to the implant
Solution Approach 1:
The implant body uses an open porous lattice structure that provides multiple surfaces and anchoring points for bone graft material. The porous structure allows bone graft to interlock with the implant framework, securing itself reliably while maintaining structural simplicity through the regular lattice pattern.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant transitions from a simple open channel (one-dimensional void) to a three-dimensional porous lattice structure. This dimensional enhancement provides multiple surfaces and volumes for bone graft attachment, improving reliability of bone graft securing while maintaining overall structural simplicity through the repeating lattice pattern.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of implant systems and related apparatus, and methods of operating the same are described herein. In various embodiments, an implant for interfacing with a bone structure includes a web structure, including a space truss, configured to interface with human bone tissue. The space truss includes two or more planar truss units having a plurality of struts joined at nodes. Implants may include biodegradable polymer particles contained within biocompatible fibers. The biodegradable polymer particles may include bone growth promoting agents that are released as the particles degrade over time.