Staple-like Intervertebral Implants for Disc Height Restoration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal fusion procedures require large access portals, leading to significant incision sizes and muscle trauma, and existing minimally invasive devices are inadequate for restoring intervertebral disc height and providing adequate anterior column support through smaller access points.
Innovation Solution
Minimally invasive, staple-like implants are inserted through a small portal and rotated into position to restore disc height, with tooth-like geometries on the staples mating with vertebral body edges, and linked with wires or cables to form a support structure, allowing for disc height restoration and bony fusion through a percutaneous access portal of 10 mm or less.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional spinal fusion devices are used, then adequate anterior column support and disc height restoration are achieved, but large access portals (18 mm minimum diameter) are required causing significant incision size and muscle trauma
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into two functional components: a delivery device for minimally invasive insertion and the actual support structure (cage or spacer) for disc height restoration. The support structure is collapsible to a small profile for insertion through a 10 mm or less portal, then expandable to provide adequate anterior column support and maintain disc height
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is designed with a collapsible configuration that nests within the delivery device during insertion. The implant compresses to a compact form factor that fits through the small access portal, then deploys to its full functional size once positioned in the intervertebral disc space
2Object-affected harmful factors
If access portal size is reduced to minimize trauma, then incision size and muscle damage are reduced, but existing minimally invasive devices are inadequate for restoring disc height and providing anterior column support
Solution Approach 1:
The implant transitions from a static small-profile insertion configuration to a dynamic expanded configuration that provides full structural support. The collapsible design allows the implant to adapt its shape and size: compact during delivery through minimal access, then expanding to provide robust anterior column support and disc height restoration
Data Source
AI summary
Multiple, small, staple-like supports are inserted through a small tube into the disc space then rotated into position on the edge of the vertebral bodies. The tooth-like geometry of the proximal and distal faces of these staples mates with the outer edge of the vertebral body, extending past the front of the endplate anteriorly. The staples have teeth that dig into the endplate on the inside of the rim as well.