Uncinate Joint Stabilizers for Cervical Motion Preservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cervical spine stabilization methods, such as cervical discectomy, often result in fusion of the cervical spine segment, leading to loss of joint movement and require invasive procedures, while existing implants for stabilizing uncinate joints are bulky and require open access to the intervertebral disc space.
Innovation Solution
The development of a system comprising a pair of uncinate joint stabilizers, including threaded, fenestrated, and shim implants, that can be inserted into the uncinate joints via anterior-to-posterior or medial-to-lateral directions, allowing for stabilization without fusion and preserving motion, using biodegradable or bone graft materials to promote fusion or bony ingrowth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cervical discectomy is performed to stabilize the cervical spine segment, then the spinal cord or nerve impingement is resolved, but the cervical spine segment fusion occurs leading to loss of joint movement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies segmentation by treating the uncinate joints separately from the intervertebral disc. Instead of fusing the entire cervical spine segment through discectomy, the patent stabilizes only the degenerating uncinate joints while preserving the motion capability of the intervertebral disc and surrounding structures. This selective stabilization approach resolves nerve impingement caused by uncinate joint degeneration without sacrificing overall spinal motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by applying stabilization only to the specific uncinate joints that are degenerating, rather than fusing the entire cervical spine segment. The uncinate joint stabilizers are placed locally at the degenerating joints to provide targeted support and prevent further degeneration, while allowing the rest of the spinal segment to maintain its motion capability.
2Reliability
If existing uncinate joint stabilizing implants are used, then uncinate joint stabilization is achieved, but the implants are bulky and require open access to the intervertebral disc space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential stabilization function from bulky existing implants and applies it through minimally invasive uncinate joint stabilizers. These stabilizers can be inserted through small incisions without requiring open access to the intervertebral disc space, reducing surgical complexity while maintaining effective uncinate joint stabilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the dimensional approach by inserting stabilizers through anterior-to-posterior or medial-to-lateral directions rather than requiring open access from the front. This dimensional change in insertion approach allows minimally invasive placement of stabilizers that provide the same stabilization effect as bulky implants but with reduced surgical complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If cervical discectomy is performed to access the cervical spine segment, then the intervertebral disc space is accessed, but extensive muscle dissection and tissue retraction are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the need for extensive muscle dissection by providing direct access to uncinate joints through minimally invasive approaches. The uncinate joint stabilizers can be inserted through small incisions without requiring the extensive muscle retraction and tissue manipulation needed for conventional discectomy, thereby reducing surgical invasiveness while still achieving the necessary stabilization.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables minimally invasive stabilization of the cervical spine segment, preserving motion and promoting bone growth, while reducing the need for extensive hardware and invasive procedures, thus addressing the limitations of traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
Fusion of the cervical spine segment requires bone growth between the two cortical bone shells of the cervical spine segment
Implementation Method 2
Threaded, fenestrated, and shim implants that can be inserted into the uncinate joints
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for stabilizing a cervical spine segment includes implanting a respective uncinate joint stabilizer into each uncinate joint of the cervical spine segment to stabilize the uncinate joints and thereby stabilize the cervical spine segment. A system for stabilizing a cervical spine segment includes a pair of uncinate joint stabilizers for stabilizing a respective pair of uncinate joints of the cervical spine segment, wherein each uncinate joint stabilizer is elongated along a lengthwise dimension and configured for placement in the respective uncinate joint with the lengthwise dimension substantially oriented along an anterior-to-posterior direction of the cervical spine segment, and wherein each uncinate joint stabilizer has height in a heightwise dimension orthogonal to the lengthwise dimension and the height is configured to define spacing of the respective uncinate joint.