Dynamic Stabilizing Vertebral Implant with Modular Wedge and Strap Locking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current intervertebral implants for spinal stabilization require a large intervention zone, causing tissue stress and prolonged recovery due to the need for extensive incisions, which can lead to severe necrosis and prolonged recovery times.

Innovation Solution

A dynamic stabilization intervertebral implant with a stabilization wedge, flexible link, and locking mechanism that minimizes the incision size by using a parallelepipedal body with recesses and a conical locking pin, allowing for minimal invasive surgery and reduced tissue damage, along with a surgical kit for precise positioning and locking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a large intervention zone is used for implant installation, then the surgeon can perform all necessary gestures (establishing flexible links, tensioning, blocking), but this causes tissue stress, severe necrosis, and prolonged recovery

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidtissue stress and necrosis
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The implant is divided into separate modular components: a stabilization wedge, flexible links (textile braids), mobile assemblies with locking members. This segmentation allows each component to be installed and secured independently through a minimal incision, eliminating the need for a large intervention zone while maintaining surgical accessibility for all necessary gestures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile assembly is inserted through the stabilization wedge, and the locking member (screw) is inserted through the mobile assembly to secure it. This nested configuration allows all components to be accessed and manipulated through a single minimal incision point, reducing tissue stress while enabling complete surgical functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a minimal incision is used, then tissue stress is reduced and recovery is faster, but the surgeon has limited space to perform necessary gestures for establishing and securing the implant

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetissue stress and necrosisVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile assembly can move relative to the stabilization wedge during installation, allowing the surgeon to manipulate and secure the flexible links through the minimal incision. The locking member then fixes this mobile assembly in place, converting the dynamic installation process into a static secured structure, enabling complete surgical gestures through a small access point

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If extensive incisions are made for implant installation, then all surgical gestures can be performed, but recovery time is prolonged and necrosis occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidrecovery time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The segmented modular design allows each component to be installed sequentially through a minimal incision, reducing surgical trauma and enabling faster patient recovery while maintaining full surgical functionality for establishing and securing the stabilization system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3416576B1Dynamically stabilizing vertebral implant, and surgical kit comprising same
Publication Date: 2023.07.19 COMPANION SPINE LLC
  • EP3416576B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3416576B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3416576B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~7B

AI summary

Disclosed is a dynamically stabilizing intervertebral implant consisting of a stabilizing wedge (1), a blocking pin (2), a locking screw (3), and a flexible link in the form of a strap. The stabilizing wedge includes a cavity (12) into which the strap can be inserted. The blocking pin can engage the wedge by being moved inside the cavity in the direction of the main axis of the body of the wedge in such a way that the longitudinal axis of the blocking pin coincides with the longitudinal axis of the cavity, runs perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first portion of the strap inside the cavity and runs parallel to the surface of the first portion of the strap inside the cavity. The strap is immobilized relative to the stabilizing wedge by being clamped between the blocking pin and the inner wall of the cavity.