Split Tower Assembly With Locking Sleeve for Bone Anchor Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bone anchor designs for minimally invasive spinal procedures face challenges such as increased complexity due to undesired separation of extensions from the anchor, obstruction of vision during operations, and additional steps required for component manipulation, which can lead to material loss and reduced procedural efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A split tower assembly with a releasable locking mechanism that securely attaches to the anchor head, allowing easy removal and improved visualization, while maintaining rigidity and reducing stretching of the surgical site.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If extensions are made separable from the anchor head, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to undesired separation
Solution Approach 1:
The tower is divided into separable extensions that can be detached from the anchor head. This segmentation allows the extensions to be easily manipulated and removed during the procedure while maintaining a secure connection when attached, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
2Strength
If the tower structure is made rigid, then strength is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional locking mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is integrated directly into the tower structure itself, merging the function of structural support with the function of secure attachment. This eliminates the need for separate locking components, maintaining strength while reducing overall device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the tower assembly is made removable, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of time increases due to additional assembly and disassembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
The extensions are pre-configured with engagement features that align with the anchor head during insertion. This preliminary configuration allows for quick attachment and detachment without requiring complex manual assembly steps, improving ease of operation while minimizing time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
An anchor extender can be couplable to a bone anchor and can include an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve, and a lock. The lock can be operable to translate the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve between a locked position and an unlocked position to secure the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve to a head of the bone anchor in the locked position and to release the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve from the head of the bone anchor in the unlocked position.