Spinous Process Spacer Implant for Vertebral Spacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spine disease treatments, such as inserting rigid spacers between vertebrae, require invasive surgical procedures and lengthy recovery times due to the need for hardware placement deep within the spinal site, while motion preservation implants like artificial discs have shown limited success.
Innovation Solution
The development of a spinous process spacer implant with adjustable extensions and cerclage elements that can be inserted between spinous processes to maintain spacing and facilitate bone growth, allowing for less invasive procedures and potential fusion or motion preservation between vertebrae.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid spacers are inserted between vertebrae to restore spacing, then vertebral spacing is restored and nerve pressure is relieved, but invasive surgical procedures and lengthy recovery times are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the spacer function from the vertebral body region and relocates it to the spinous process region. The spinous process spacer maintains vertebral spacing by acting on the posterior elements rather than requiring insertion into the disc space, thereby eliminating the need for invasive hardware placement deep within the spinal site while achieving the same therapeutic effect of relieving nerve pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The spinous process spacer serves as an intermediary device that indirectly maintains vertebral spacing. Instead of directly replacing the disc or inserting hardware into the disc space, the spacer acts on the spinous processes to maintain appropriate spacing between vertebrae, thereby relieving nerve pressure through indirect mechanical action.
2Stability of the object's composition
If hardware is placed deep within the spinal site to stabilize vertebrae, then vertebral stability is achieved, but invasive procedures and long rehabilitation are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the stabilization function from the anterior column (vertebral bodies and discs) and relocates it to the posterior column (spinous processes). By placing the spacer on the spinous processes rather than inserting hardware into the disc space or vertebral bodies, the device achieves vertebral stability through a less invasive surgical approach.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of stabilizing the spine from the front by replacing discs or fusing vertebral bodies, the invention inverts the approach by stabilizing the spine from the back through the spinous processes. This posterior approach to spinal stabilization avoids the need for invasive anterior or lateral hardware placement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If artificial disc implants are used to preserve motion, then vertebral motion is maintained, but limited success has been achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The spinous process spacer is designed to be dynamic rather than rigid, allowing it to adapt to natural spinal motion. The spacer maintains appropriate spacing between spinous processes while permitting physiological movement, thereby preserving vertebral motion without the complications associated with rigid artificial disc implants.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the location and mechanism of motion control from the disc space to the spinous process region. By acting on the posterior elements rather than replacing the disc, the device preserves motion through a different mechanical parameter (spinous process spacing) rather than attempting to replicate disc function.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides spinous process implant and associated methods. In one aspect of the invention the implant limits the maximum spacing between the spinous processes. In another aspect of the invention, a spacer has at least one transverse opening to facilitate tissue in-growth. In another aspect of the invention, an implant includes a spacer and separate extensions engageable with the spacer. The spacer is provided in a variety of lengths and superior to inferior surface spacings. In another aspect of the invention, an implant includes a spacer and a cerclage element offset from the midline of the spacer in use so that the spacer defines a fulcrum and the cerclage element is operative to impart a moment to the vertebrae about the spacer. In another aspect of the invention, instrumentation for inserting the implant is provided. In other aspects of the invention, methods for treating spine disease are provided.