Spinous Process Implant with Adjustable Post and Boss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Damage to vertebral members and intervertebral discs can lead to pain and neurological deficits, and existing methods for stabilizing these structures are inadequate in providing effective pain relief and maintaining spinal motion.
Innovation Solution
An implant system comprising an elongated post with attached plates positioned on either side of the spinous processes, allowing for adjustable placement and secure fixation using a boss and locking mechanism to accommodate varying anatomies and provide stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-size implant is used to stabilize spinous processes, then the implant structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate varying anatomical dimensions of different patients
Solution Approach 1:
The implant incorporates a movable plate that can slide along the post to adjust the distance between plates, transforming a static fixed-size implant into a dynamic adjustable system that adapts to varying anatomical dimensions while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The implant allows adjustment of the distance parameter between the first and second plates by sliding the second plate along the post, enabling the same implant structure to accommodate different anatomical dimensions through parameter modification rather than requiring multiple fixed-size variants
2Adaptability or versatility
If the second plate is securely fixed to the post, then the implant provides stable fixation, but it cannot be adjusted to accommodate different anatomical dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The second plate is designed to be movable along the post during the adjustment phase, allowing the distance between plates to be customized for different anatomies, and then locked in place to provide stable fixation, thus achieving both adjustability and reliability through a dynamic-to-static transition
Solution Approach 2:
The implant allows the distance between plates to be adjusted and optimized before final securing, enabling preliminary positioning to accommodate anatomical variations, followed by locking to maintain the optimized configuration and ensure stable fixation
3Adaptability or versatility
If the plates are positioned close together, then the implant structure is compact, but it cannot accommodate wider interspinous spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The distance between plates is made dynamically adjustable through sliding movement of the second plate along the post, allowing the implant to expand to accommodate wider interspinous spaces or maintain a compact configuration for narrower spaces as needed
Data Source
AI summary
A spinous process implant with two plates that are connected together with a post. The implant is configured for each plate to be positioned on outer lateral sides of spinous processes with the post extending through the interspinous space. One or both plates may be movable along the length of the post to accommodate different anatomies such as for relatively wide or thin spinous processes. The post includes an enlarged head at a first end to prevent the first plate from disassociating from the post in a first direction. The post also includes a boss at a second end to prevent the second plate from disassociating from the post in a second direction. Methods of attaching the implants to the spinous processes are also disclosed.