Toroid-Shaped Spinal Disc Implant for Motion Preservation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) leads to reduced disc height and altered loading patterns, causing instability and nerve compression in the spinal column, for which existing surgical treatments like spinal fusion and total disc arthroplasty may not fully replicate natural spine movement.
Innovation Solution
A toroid-shaped spinal disc implant with articulating components, including a convex and concave surface, designed to articulate relative to each other, allowing for natural motion and stability between vertebral bodies, and optionally featuring a shell and inner core structure for enhanced wear properties and compressibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional total disc arthroplasty is used, then disc replacement function is achieved, but natural spine movement replication is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into two separate articulating components: a superior component with a concave articulating surface and an inferior component with a convex articulating surface. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together to replicate complex spinal movements including flexion, extension, lateral bending, and rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulating surfaces are designed with specific curvatures - the superior component has a concave surface and the inferior component has a convex surface. These curved surfaces enable smooth rolling and gliding motions that replicate natural spine movement patterns, improving adaptability while maintaining reliability.
2Length of moving object
If disc height is reduced due to degenerative disc disease, then disc degeneration occurs, but stability and nerve compression increase
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is designed to restore and maintain optimal disc height parameters. By providing a structured support that maintains the correct vertical distance between vertebral bodies, the implant prevents the altered loading patterns and instability that result from height reduction due to degeneration.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulating components are designed to automatically adjust and balance loads between the disc and facet joints during movement. This load-balancing mechanism provides real-time feedback through the articulation surfaces, maintaining stability while accommodating natural spinal motion.
3Stability of the object's composition
If spinal fusion is performed, then stability is achieved, but anatomical motion between vertebral bodies is lost
Solution Approach 1:
Unlike static spinal fusion, this implant incorporates dynamic articulating surfaces that allow continuous motion. The convex-concave interface enables the implant to adapt its degree of freedom based on physiological loading conditions, maintaining both stability and anatomical motion simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
An intervertebral implant for insertion between adjacent vertebral bodies is provided. The intervertebral implant can include a first component. The first component can have a first articulating surface, which can be generally convex. The intervertebral implant can include a second component, which can be generally in the shape of a toroid. The second component can have a second articulating surface. The second articulating surface can be generally concave and articulable with the first articulating surface for retaining motion between the first and second vertebra. The second articulating surface can have a larger radius of curvature than the first articulating surface such that a portion of the first articulating surface extends into an aperture defined by the generally toroid shape.