Surgical Distractor with Height Controller for Vertebral Manipulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical technologies for treating spinal disorders, such as degenerative disc disease and kyphosis, lack efficient instruments for precise vertebral manipulation and stabilization, which can lead to incomplete correction and prolonged recovery.
Innovation Solution
A surgical system comprising a retractor with adjustable height and a compressor/distractor mechanism, allowing for parallel distraction and compression of vertebral tissue, along with implant supports and bone fasteners for stabilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional surgical instruments are used for vertebral manipulation, then the surgical procedure can be performed, but precise correction of spinal deformities is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical instrument is divided into multiple functional segments including a distractor component for vertebral separation, a retractor component for tissue retraction, and an implant support component for stabilization. Each segment can be independently adjusted and positioned to achieve precise vertebral manipulation while maintaining overall system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument incorporates adjustable and movable components that allow dynamic adaptation during surgery. The height controller enables dynamic adjustment of the retractor blade position, and the distractor mechanism allows dynamic control of vertebral separation distance, facilitating precise correction throughout the surgical procedure.
2Productivity
If conventional distractors and retractors are used separately, then individual functions are performed, but coordinated distraction and retraction is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the distractor mechanism and retractor mechanism into a single integrated surgical instrument. The distractor blades can simultaneously separate vertebral bodies while the retractor blades concurrently retract adjacent tissues, eliminating the need for separate instruments and improving surgical efficiency through coordinated action.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated instrument serves multiple functions within a single device structure. It can perform distraction of vertebral bodies, retraction of adjacent tissues, and support for implant placement simultaneously or in sequence, reducing the number of instrument changes and procedural steps required.
3Reliability
If manual manipulation of vertebrae is performed, then the surgeon has direct control, but stabilization and precision are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument acts as an intermediary between the surgeon's manual control and the vertebral structures. The distractor and retractor mechanisms translate surgeon-applied forces into controlled, precise movements of the vertebral bodies and surrounding tissues, providing both stability during manipulation and ease of operation through mechanical advantage.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument allows for controlled changes in critical parameters such as the distance between vertebral bodies (distraction distance) and the position of retractor blades (retraction depth). These parameter adjustments can be made systematically during the procedure to achieve precise stabilization while maintaining ease of operation through the instrument's adjustment mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument includes a first member having a mating surface that is connectable with a first blade and a height controller. The height controller is connectable with a surgical distractor and configured to translate the first member relative to the surgical distractor. A second member includes a second blade and is movable relative to the first member such that the blades are movable to space tissue adjacent a spine. Surgical systems, constructs, implants and methods are disclosed.