Variable Height Intervertebral Device with Pin-Sleeve Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Damage or disease affecting the vertebrae can lead to neurologic impairment and loss of structural support, necessitating the maintenance or re-establishment of anatomic spacing within the spine to ensure functionality and prevent long-term impairments.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable intervertebral device with a cylindrical body and disk system that allows for variable height adjustment during installation, featuring a rotating mechanism with circumferential teeth and pin-sleeve engagement to inhibit rotation, enabling bi-directional adjustment and infinite variability in height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-height intervertebral device is used, then the device structure is simple, but the device cannot be customized to accommodate specific spinal spacing needs
Solution Approach 1:
The intervertebral device incorporates a dynamic height adjustment mechanism consisting of a cylindrical body with threaded engagement, allowing the device height to be varied during installation. The cylindrical body rotates relative to the disk, converting rotational motion into axial translation to adjust the spacing between vertebrae.
Solution Approach 2:
The device enables parameter change by allowing the height dimension to be adjusted during implantation. The threaded interaction between the cylindrical body and the disk permits continuous variation of the device height to match the specific anatomic spacing requirements of each patient.
2Ease of operation
If the disk is allowed to rotate during height adjustment, then the adjustment mechanism is simple, but the disk cannot translate axially along the cylindrical body
Solution Approach 1:
The pin-sleeve engagement acts as an intermediary mechanism that selectively permits or restricts motion. The pin mounted on the disk engages with the circumferential teeth on the cylindrical body, serving as a mediator that converts rotational movement into controlled axial translation while preventing unwanted rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation inhibition mechanism dynamically engages and disengages based on the adjustment phase. During height adjustment, the pin-sleeve engagement allows controlled translation while preventing rotation; once adjustment is complete, the mechanism locks to maintain the final position.
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
The device effectively maintains or re-establishes anatomic spacing between vertebrae, providing critical structural support and preventing long-term impairments by allowing surgeons to customize the device's height to accommodate specific spinal needs.
Implementation Method 1
a first disk internally threaded to the first end of the cylindrical body and a second disk internally threaded to the second end of the cylindrical body
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of pins mounted to one of the first disk and the second disk, the plurality of pins slidably engageable with a plurality of sleeves mounted to the other of the first disk and the second disk
Data Source
AI summary
Variable height intervertebral devices and method of employing the devices are disclosed. The devices and methods can maintain or re-establishing anatomic spacing along a spine and can ensure avoidance of long-term structural, neurological, vascular, and/or other systemic impairments. The intervertebral device includes a cylindrical body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; a first disk threaded to the first end of the cylindrical body and a second disk mounted to the second end of the cylindrical body; means for rotating the cylindrical body whereby the first disk translates along the cylindrical body to vary the height of the device; and a plurality of pins mounted to one disk, the plurality of pins slidably engageable with a plurality of sleeves mounted to the other disk, the pins and sleeves inhibiting the first disk from rotating when the cylindrical body is rotated.