Undercut-Interlocking Composite Bone Graft for Spinal Fusion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bone grafts face limitations in strength and stability, often failing due to extrusion, rotation, and lack of cellularization, particularly in spinal fusion applications where cortical bone grafts are insufficient in size and mechanical strength.
Innovation Solution
Composite bone grafts comprising interconnected cortical bone portions with biocompatible connectors, featuring undercut geometries and interlocking fits, promote osteoinductivity and cellularization, providing enhanced stability and mechanical strength without additional height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If cortical bone grafts are used to provide structural support in spinal fusion, then mechanical strength is improved, but the graft size is insufficient for optimal load bearing
Solution Approach 1:
The bone graft is divided into multiple cortical bone portions that are interconnected to form a composite structure. This segmentation allows the graft to achieve adequate volume for load bearing while maintaining the high mechanical strength of cortical bone through its segmented architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite bone graft by combining multiple cortical bone portions with biocompatible connectors. This composite structure enables the graft to achieve both the mechanical strength of cortical bone and the adequate volume necessary for optimal load bearing in spinal fusion applications.
2Reliability
If bone grafts are implanted to promote fusion, then osteoinductivity is improved, but the graft fails due to extrusion and rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented design with multiple cortical bone portions connected by biocompatible connectors creates a stable composite structure that resists extrusion and rotation while maintaining osteoinductivity for successful fusion.
Solution Approach 2:
Biocompatible connectors serve as intermediaries between cortical bone portions, providing mechanical stability to prevent graft extrusion and rotation while allowing the bone portions to maintain their osteoinductive properties for fusion success.
3Reliability
If allograft or autograft material is used to form graft components, then biocompatibility is improved, but the components lack adequate mechanical strength
Solution Approach 1:
The graft is segmented into multiple cortical bone portions made from biocompatible allograft or autograft material, which are then interconnected to achieve both biocompatibility and adequate mechanical strength through the composite structure.
Solution Approach 2:
By combining biocompatible cortical bone portions (allograft or autograft) with biocompatible connectors in a composite structure, the invention achieves both high biocompatibility and adequate mechanical strength for spinal fusion applications.
Data Source
AI summary
A spinal bone graft includes one or more cortical bone portions forming a first unit. The first unit includes an engagement surface for contacting bone, and a mating surface. The mating surface forms at least one first undercut. The bone graft also includes one or more cortical bone portions forming a second unit. The second unit includes an engagement surface for contacting bone, and a mating surface. The mating surface forms either at least one second undercut, or at least one connector. In the former, at least one connector is received in each of the first and second undercuts to interconnect the first and second units. In the latter, the at least one connector of the second unit is received in the first undercut of the first unit to interconnect the first unit and second unit.