Spinous Process Implant with Deployable Wing for Minimally Invasive Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal fusion technologies require invasive surgical procedures and prolonged recovery times due to the need for deep hardware placement near the spine, and existing motion preservation implants have limited success in addressing spine disease effectively.
Innovation Solution
Development of a spinous process fusion plate with foldable or deployable extensions that can be implanted percutaneously, allowing for minimally invasive procedures and facilitating tissue ingrowth for fusion, using modular and adjustable fasteners to accommodate anatomical variations and promote bone growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional spinal fusion hardware is placed deep within the surgical site adjacent to the spine, then stable spinal fusion is achieved, but invasive surgery and prolonged recovery are required
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into distinct functional segments: a body portion for distraction and a wing portion for stabilization. The wing portion can be deployed separately from the body portion, allowing the implant to be inserted through a minimally invasive percutaneous approach while still achieving stable fixation. This segmentation enables the complex function of deep hardware placement to be achieved through a less invasive delivery method.
Solution Approach 2:
The wing portion is pre-configured in a compressed state within the delivery device, allowing it to be delivered percutaneously before being deployed to its final functional configuration. This preliminary compression state enables the implant to pass through small incisions while maintaining the capability to achieve full stabilization function after deployment.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If rigid spacers are inserted into the disc space to restore vertebral spacing, then nerve tissue pressure is relieved, but invasive surgery and long rehabilitation are required
Solution Approach 1:
The implant separates the distraction function (body portion) from the stabilization function (wing portion), allowing minimally invasive percutaneous insertion while achieving both nerve decompression and stable fixation. This eliminates the need for extensive open surgery and long rehabilitation associated with traditional rigid spacers.
3Ease of operation
If foldable extensions are added to enable percutaneous implantation, then surgical invasiveness is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is segmented into a body portion and a deployable wing portion, where the wing can be compressed for insertion and then deployed to provide stabilization. This segmentation allows the complex function of percutaneous delivery to be achieved while maintaining relatively simple individual component designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The wing portion transitions from a compressed static state during delivery to a deployed functional state after insertion. This dynamic transformation allows the implant to achieve its full stabilization capability only after percutaneous insertion, combining simple delivery with effective function.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides spinous process implants and associated methods. In one aspect of the invention, the implant includes at least one extension with a superior lobe pivotally connected to an inferior lobe, such as by a hinge, to allow unfolding of the at least one extension from a folded position to an unfolded position. In certain aspects, the folding extension may include fasteners to facilitate engagement with the spinous processes to provide both a flexion stop as well as an extension stop. The fasteners may have corresponding bores to allow the fasteners to reside in the bores to provide a compact profile for implantation. In another aspect of the invention, the implant is introduced to the surgical site using a lateral or paramedian approach and associated tools to facilitate the same.