Lateral Spine Stabilizer with Rotating Guide Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spine stabilization methods either lead to degeneration of adjacent disks, fail to provide dynamic stabilization, or are difficult to dimension correctly for individual patient anatomy, resulting in inadequate kinematic behavior and potential aggravation of spinal damage.
Innovation Solution
A device for lateral stabilization of the spine that replicates anatomical movements by using vertebral elements with guide surfaces that slide and rotate about a center located in the intervertebral disk space, allowing for precise kinematic behavior and stable stress distribution, while being easily implantable with lateral anchoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If rigid vertebral assemblies are implanted to permanently block articulating joints for arthrodesis, then vertebral stabilization is achieved, but adjacent disks degenerate and require subsequent operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic stabilization device with movable joints that replicate physiological spinal movements. The vertebral elements are connected by joints allowing relative movement, enabling the spine to maintain mobility while providing stabilization. This dynamic approach prevents the complete immobilization that causes adjacent disk degeneration in rigid fusion constructs.
Solution Approach 2:
The device divides the spinal stabilization function into multiple independent vertebral elements connected by joints. Rather than a single rigid assembly fusing multiple vertebrae, the segmented design allows each vertebra to maintain its articulation while providing stabilization through the connected elements, thereby preserving adjacent disk function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate vertebral elements connected by rectilinear telescopic joints are used, then the assembly adapts to kinematic development, but actual dynamic stabilization is not provided and intervertebral disks are not protected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements true dynamic stabilization through joints that allow controlled relative movement between vertebral elements. Unlike telescopic joints that only provide linear adjustment, the disclosed joints enable rotational and multi-axis movements that actively stabilize vertebrae while protecting intervertebral disks during physiological motion.
3Stability of the object's composition
If pistons with elliptical cross-sections are used to connect vertebrae, then rotation about vertical axis is prevented, but articulating movements are centered behind the vertebrae causing disk pinching and crushing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the center of rotation from a position behind the vertebrae to the intervertebral disk space by redesigning the joint geometry. The guide surfaces and articulating structures are configured to establish rotation centers within the disk space, eliminating the pinching and crushing effects caused by posteriorly-centered rotation in piston designs.
4Adaptability or versatility
If lateral dynamic stabilization devices with flexible joining elements are used, then spine mobility is retained and intervertebral disks are relieved, but dimensioning of flexibility is difficult and resilient behavior changes over time leading to poor stabilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible joining elements with carefully controlled mechanical parameters. The flexibility, stiffness, and resilient properties of these elements are specifically designed to maintain consistent stabilization performance over time while preserving spine mobility. The parameters are optimized to prevent the degradation issues seen in conventional flexible devices.
Data Source
AI summary
The device (9) comprises vertebral elements (10, 20, 10′, 20′) adapted to be fixed to the same lateral side of the bodies of at least two adjacent vertebrae (1, 2), the elements being associated in pairs that are provided to be associated with the left and right sides of the vertebrae. In order to guide the vertebrae effectively and stably, in order, in use, to reproduce an articulating intervertebral joint, the two elements of each pair delimit respective surfaces (15, 25, 15′, 25′) for the relative guiding of those elements, which surfaces are adapted, when the elements are implanted on their corresponding vertebra, to extend generally along the same lateral side of the body of the vertebrae and to rest and slide one against the other in such a manner that the surfaces define a center of rotation (C) about which the two elements are able to turn one relative to the other.