Spinous Process Fixation Implant Midline Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal stabilization systems add bulk to the lateral aspect of the spine, limiting access to the pars and transverse processes for decortication and bone graft placement, and are difficult to extend for multi-level fusion.
Innovation Solution
A spinous process fixation implant with an elongated component, pivoting wings, and a spacer that stabilizes adjacent spinous processes without adding bulk, allowing for multi-level fusion and easy access for bone graft placement, using pins and locking elements for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional rod fixation systems are used for spinal stabilization, then vertebral stabilization is achieved, but bulk is added to the lateral aspect of the spine limiting access to pars and transverse processes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention moves the fixation system from a lateral approach to a midline approach by utilizing the spinous processes. The implant is positioned in the midline between spinous processes rather than laterally, fundamentally changing the spatial dimension of access and eliminating the bulk problem while maintaining stabilization function
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the fixation function from the lateral rod system and relocates it to the spinous processes. By removing the lateral rod component and replacing it with a midline spinous process fixation device, the harmful lateral bulk is eliminated while the essential stabilization function is preserved
2Reliability
If traditional rod fixation systems are used for spinal stabilization, then vertebral stabilization is achieved, but access for decortication and bone graft placement is limited
Solution Approach 1:
By relocating the fixation device to the midline spinous process area, the invention opens up the lateral aspects of the spine, providing excellent access to transverse processes and pars for decortication and bone graft placement, while the midline position of the implant does not interfere with these lateral surgical maneuvers
3Reliability
If rod fixation systems are used for multi-level fusion, then spinal stabilization is achieved, but extension to higher or lower levels is difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation system is segmented into individual modular units that can be independently applied to each spinous process level. Each unit consists of a body with wings that can be separately implanted and then connected, allowing straightforward extension to additional levels without complex rod contouring or connector manipulation
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design creates universal building blocks that can be used at any spinal level. The standardized interface and configuration allow the same basic unit to be replicated across multiple levels, enabling efficient multi-level fusion without requiring level-specific customization or complex extension procedures
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable spinous process fixation device includes an elongated component, top and bottom pivoting wing components, arranged opposite and parallel to the elongated component and separated from it by a spacer. First and second spinous processes of first and second adjacent vertebras are clamped between a top portion of the elongated component and the top pivoting wing and between a bottom portion of the elongated component and the bottom pivoting wing, respectively, by pivoting the top and bottom pivoting wings toward the top and bottom portions of the elongated component. The clamping of the spinous processes stabilizes the positions of the adjacent vertebras and prevents them from moving relative to each other.