Vertebral Stabilization Coupling Member with Adhesive Engagement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vertebral stabilization systems require significant bone alteration and multiple components for securement, leading to trauma and complexity in engaging longitudinal members to vertebrae, necessitating a low-profile stabilization solution that simplifies engagement and reduces tissue disruption.

Innovation Solution

A vertebral stabilization system featuring a coupling member with a base and retaining mechanism that allows atraumatic engagement to the vertebrae using adhesives or distal extensions, enabling securement of longitudinal members with minimal component handling and reduced tissue trauma, employing various configurations such as adhesive bonding, slots, and threaded retaining members.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional fasteners are used to secure the longitudinal member to vertebrae, then secure stabilization is achieved, but significant bone alteration and tissue trauma occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestabilization securityVSAvoidbone trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical fasteners (screws, pins, or other invasive fixation devices) with an adhesive bonding system. The coupling member includes an engagement surface that contacts the vertebral body and utilizes adhesive material to secure the longitudinal member, eliminating the need for bone drilling, screw insertion, or other traumatic mechanical fixation methods while maintaining stabilization reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling member serves as an intermediary component between the longitudinal member and the vertebral body. It includes an engagement surface that interfaces with the bone and a retaining member that secures the longitudinal member, allowing adhesive bonding to occur without direct mechanical penetration of the bone structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If multiple small components are used to engage the longitudinal member to fasteners, then secure attachment is achieved, but handling and placement complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment securityVSAvoidcomponent handling complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the fastening function and the longitudinal member engagement function into a single integrated coupling member. The coupling member includes both an engagement surface for securing to the vertebral body and a retaining member for attaching the longitudinal member, eliminating the need for separate fasteners and reducing the number of components that must be handled and assembled

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling member is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously performs bone engagement through its engagement surface and longitudinal member retention through its retaining member. This universal design consolidates multiple functions into one component, simplifying the surgical procedure and reducing assembly complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If fasteners project from the bone into adjacent tissue to accommodate components, then component engagement is possible, but tissue disruption and profile increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent engagement capabilityVSAvoidtissue disruption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the projection function from the bone structure itself and transfers it to the coupling member. Instead of having fasteners project from the vertebral body into adjacent tissue, the coupling member is designed with an engagement surface that contacts the bone and a retaining member that accommodates the longitudinal member, eliminating the need for tissue-disrupting projections while maintaining component engagement capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 system provides effective stabilization with reduced bone trauma and simplified component placement, facilitating quicker and more efficient engagement of longitudinal members along the spinal column, preserving bony tissue integrity and reducing procedural complexity.

Implementation Method 1

the coupling member includes an engagement surface with an adhesive to atraumatically engage the coupling member to a vertebral body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesive bonding: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentUS8672972B2Low profile vertebral stabilzation systems and methods

Publication Date: 2014.03.18 WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC INC

AI summary

Skeletal stabilization systems include a base, a longitudinal member, and a retaining member. The base includes an engagement surface with a surface area that is positionable in contact with a bone to atraumatically or traumatically engage the base to the bone. The retaining member engages the base to retain the longitudinal member relative to the base so that the longitudinal member can provide a desired stabilization effect to one or more adjacent bony portions.