Patient-Specific Spine Drill Template with Hook-Shaped Body
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Solution Overview
Problem
The thoracic spine's smaller vertebral body poses a challenge for accurate pedicle screw insertion due to the risk of soft tissue, vascular, nerve, and ligament injuries, as existing methods lack precision in guiding screws during minimally invasive procedures.
Innovation Solution
A patient-specific drill template with a hook-shaped main body and insertion guiding portion, made from materials like titanium alloy or bioceramics, is designed using 3D printing to guide spine screws accurately into vertebrae, featuring a tight contact portion, hook portion, and threaded inner guiding surfaces for secure placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pedicle screw fixation is performed in the thoracic spine using conventional methods, then the procedure can be completed, but accurate insertion is difficult due to the smaller vertebral body size, leading to risks of soft tissue, vascular, nerve, and ligament injuries
Solution Approach 1:
A patient-specific drill template is manufactured before surgery based on preoperative imaging data (CT or MRI). The template includes a hook-shaped main body customized to match the patient's vertebral anatomy, allowing precise positioning and guidance of screw insertion trajectories before the actual surgical procedure begins
Solution Approach 2:
The drill template serves as an intermediary device between the surgeon and the vertebra. The hook-shaped main body engages with bony landmarks (transverse processes or laminae) to establish a stable reference framework, while the insertion guiding portion channels the drill and screw along the predetermined safe trajectory, mediating the interaction to prevent direct contact with vulnerable soft tissues and vessels
2Manufacturing precision
If a patient-specific drill template with hook-shaped main body is used to guide spine screws, then screw insertion accuracy is improved and soft tissue damage is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to customization requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The drill template design incorporates multiple functions within a single device: the hook-shaped main body provides both positioning and stabilization functions by engaging with bony landmarks, while the integrated insertion guiding portion performs trajectory guidance and depth control. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple separate instruments despite the customized design
Solution Approach 2:
The template is customized by varying key geometric parameters (hook curvature, insertion guide angle, guide hole diameter) based on patient-specific anatomical measurements derived from preoperative imaging. This parameter-based customization approach allows precise adaptation to individual vertebral anatomy while maintaining a standardized manufacturing process through 3D printing technology
Data Source
AI summary
A patient-specific drill template for spine screw placement includes a hook-shaped main body, and an insertion guiding portion that guides a spine screw to be inserted into a vertebra. The main body includes a tight contact portion and a hook portion, the tight contact portion connecting with insertion guiding portion, the hook portion extending from the tight contact portion, and the main body partially surrounds the vertebra. A method of preparing a patient-specific drill template for spine screw placement includes preparing a three-dimensional computed tomography of a lumbar or thoracic spine in a hospital; transferring the CT data to the manufacturing facility using a network; processing the computed tomography to generate a three-dimensional reconstruction template of the patient-specific drill template in the facility; preparing the patient-specific drill template based on the reconstruction template; packaging the template and sterilizing the patient-specific drill template.