Variable Wall Spinal Implant for Nerve Pinching Relief

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spinal implants, such as titanium plates, cause pain and discomfort during installation and lead to loss of flexibility, and fail to adequately address the misalignment issue between vertebrae, resulting in pinching of spinal nerve branches.

Innovation Solution

A three-dimensional, flexible plastic implant with a variable wall thickness and annular open rim profile is used to create a pocket shape that can be mounted over the tips of inferior articular processes, providing correct lateral spacing between superior and inferior articular processes to prevent nerve pinching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a titanium plate is used to fuse and immobilize vertebrae, then spinal stability is improved, but flexibility is lost and implantation causes pain and discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespinal stabilityVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The implant is divided into multiple segments including superior and inferior articulating surfaces that can independently articulate with adjacent vertebrae, allowing localized stabilization while preserving overall spinal flexibility. The segmented structure enables each facet joint to be addressed separately rather than rigidly fixing the entire spine segment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The implant incorporates dynamic articulating surfaces that allow controlled movement between vertebrae. The superior and inferior facets are designed to articulate with each other, permitting physiological motion while maintaining stability. This dynamic design replaces the static, rigid fixation of traditional plates with a mobile, adaptive structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If vertebrae are misaligned, then spinal structure is compromised, but nerve pinching occurs as a direct consequence of the misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertebral alignmentVSAvoidnerve pinching

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The implant serves as an intermediary structure between misaligned vertebrae, with articulating surfaces that mediate the relationship between superior and inferior facets. This intermediary structure corrects the misalignment by providing a stable interface that prevents direct bone-to-bone contact that would cause nerve pinching, while still allowing physiological motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The implant changes the geometric parameters of the facet joint interface through its specifically designed articulating surfaces. By altering the contact geometry and separation distance between vertebrae, the implant corrects misalignment parameters and eliminates the harmful compression on nerve branches that results from improper vertebral positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If a fixed implant structure is used to stabilize vertebrae, then alignment is improved, but the implant lacks adaptability to physiological movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertebral alignmentVSAvoidadaptability to movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The implant transitions from a fixed, static structure to a dynamic system with articulating superior and inferior facets that can move relative to each other. This dynamic design allows the implant to adapt to physiological spinal movements while maintaining proper vertebral alignment, combining stability with flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The implant performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides alignment correction, allows physiological motion, reduces friction between facets, and prevents nerve pinching. This multi-functional design makes the implant adaptable to various spinal movement conditions while maintaining its primary stabilizing function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9084638B2Implant for providing inter-vertebral support and for relieving pinching of the spinal nerves

Publication Date: 2015.07.21 LINARES SPINAL DEVICES LLC

AI summary

An implant for assisting in providing a correct separation distance between overlapping superior and inferior articular processes, such as associated with succeeding lumbar vertebrae (L1-L5). The implant teaches a pocket defining body having an open rim profile of variable wall thickness, the implants being employed individually or in paired fashion between each laterally spaced pair of overlapping facet contact locations established between inwardly facing superior articular process facets associated with a first (lower) vertebra and opposing outwardly facing inferior articular process facets associated with a second (upper succeeding) vertebra. Use of the implant assists in providing correct lateral spacing between the superior and inferior processes, reducing or preventing pinching of the laterally extending nerve branches of the spinal nerve column.