Spine Retractor Distractor Device with Rotatable Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical procedures for spinal disc replacement face challenges in maintaining mechanical linkage between tissue retraction and segment distraction, leading to potential contamination and loss of reference during procedures.
Innovation Solution
A spine retractor and distractor device with spinal process clamps and a retractor assembly that allows for rotatable coupling, enabling simultaneous retraction of soft tissue and distraction of spinal segments, maintaining a fixed position relative to the patient.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate instruments are used for retraction and distraction, then each function can be performed independently, but mechanical linkage is lost and contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the retractor and distractor into a single integrated instrument. The retractor blades are attached to the distractor handle, creating a unified device that performs both retraction and distraction functions simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate instruments while maintaining mechanical linkage between the two functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated instrument serves multiple functions: the retractor blades retract soft tissue while the same instrument simultaneously distracts the spinal segments. This multi-functional design allows a single device to perform what previously required separate specialized instruments, reducing complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the instrument is bound to the patient, then reference stability is maintained, but the sterile field may be contaminated
Solution Approach 1:
The distractor handle acts as an intermediary that is bound to the patient's anatomy (specifically to the spinous process), providing a stable reference point. The handle remains within the sterile field while maintaining its position relative to the patient, thus preventing contamination while ensuring reference stability throughout the procedure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the table is used as reference, then the sterile field is maintained, but reference is lost when patient is moved
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is preliminarily anchored to the patient's anatomy before the procedure begins. The distractor handle is positioned and secured to the spinous process, establishing a stable reference point that moves with the patient. This preliminary anchoring ensures that the reference stability is maintained throughout any patient movements while the sterile field remains intact.
Data Source
AI summary
A spine retractor and distractor device comprises spinal process clamps and a retractor assembly, which may be rotatably coupled with the spinal process clamps. The retractor assembly may include a retractor ring, or frame, and a plurality of retractor blades adjustably coupled to the frame, e.g., by clamps. The spinal process clamps can maintain a grip on the spinal processes of the patient, and distraction pliers may be used to impart a distraction force on the spinal process clamps to distract the spinal segments. Additionally, other components, features, or tools, e.g., a light source and/or a camera, can be mounted on the instrument.