Vertebral Body Derotation Towers for 3D Spinal Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spinal fixation constructs face challenges in effectively correcting spinal curvature, particularly in conditions like adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, as they struggle to maintain vertebral alignment during bone fusion and prevent motion-induced inhibition of bone growth.
Innovation Solution
A vertebral body derotation system comprising derotation towers, transverse connectors, and clamps is used to couple bone anchors across vertebrae, allowing for simultaneous correction of spinal alignment in sagittal, coronal, and axial planes by derotating vertebrae and locking fixation rods in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional rod-based fixation constructs are used to correct spinal curvature, then spinal stability is improved, but the ability to achieve precise 3-dimensional vertebral alignment and derotation is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation construct is divided into multiple functional components: anchors for vertebral attachment, derotation towers for rotational correction, transverse connectors for lateral linkage, and clamps for longitudinal coupling. This segmentation allows each component to address specific alignment requirements in different planes, achieving precise 3-dimensional vertebral positioning while maintaining overall spinal stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extends correction capabilities from traditional two-plane (sagittal and coronal) to three-plane correction by adding derotation towers that enable axial plane derotation. The derotation towers with their rotational mechanisms allow surgeons to correct vertebral rotation and achieve alignment in all three anatomical planes, addressing the limitation of conventional rod-based constructs.
2Reliability
If fixation constructs are used to prevent motion between vertebrae, then bone fusion is facilitated, but the complexity of constructing and adjusting the fixation system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation construct incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities through derotation towers that can be rotated and locked at different positions, and clamps that can be adjusted along the longitudinal axis. These dynamic features allow intraoperative customization of the construct to match the patient's specific anatomical requirements, facilitating bone fusion while managing complexity through controlled adjustability rather than fixed rigid structures.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple correction functions are merged into integrated components: the derotation towers combine rotational correction with vertical positioning, the transverse connectors link both lateral and longitudinal adjustments, and the clamps provide both securing and positioning functions. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall construction process while maintaining the ability to achieve precise 3-dimensional alignment and prevent motion for bone fusion.
Data Source
AI summary
One aspect of the disclosure relates to vertebral body derotation (VBD) system. In one embodiment, the VBD system includes a first pair of derotation towers and a second pair of derotation towers, a first transverse coupler coupled to the first pair of derotation towers and a second transverse coupler coupled to the second pair of derotation towers, and at least one clamp configured to couple the first and second transverse connectors in the cranial-caudal direction or a first derotation tower of the first pair of derotation towers and a second derotation tower of the second pair of derotation towers in the cranial-caudal direction.