Vertebral Implant Porous Expander Bone Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vertebral implant methods face challenges such as mechanical expanding devices damaging cancellous bone, balloons bursting under high pressure, and lack of control over filler distribution, leading to incomplete bone expansion and fixation issues.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional porous device that automatically expands within the vertebrae, controlling filler distribution and interdigitating with bone structure, using biodegradable materials to form channels for bone cell growth and integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a mechanical expanding device is used to expand the bone, then the bone expansion space is generated, but the cancellous bone is crushed and fragments fall into the device causing it to get stuck and unable to be retracted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous expanding device with a three-dimensional porous structure that allows bone fragments to pass through the pores during expansion, preventing fragment accumulation that would cause device jamming and retraction failure
Solution Approach 2:
The invention separates the expanding function from the fixation function by using a dedicated porous expanding device that can be retrieved, followed by insertion of a separate covering device for filler delivery, avoiding the need for the expanding device to remain in situ
2Volume of moving object
If a balloon is used to expand the bone by injecting liquid under high pressure, then the bone is expanded, but the balloon may fall off from the nozzle or burst under high pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the balloon with a porous expanding device that expands through bone fragment accumulation and resorption rather than high-pressure liquid injection, eliminating the risks of balloon detachment or bursting
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the high-pressure hydraulic system with a mechanical expansion mechanism driven by bone physiology (fragment accumulation and resorption), substituting a potentially unsafe high-pressure system with a safer physiological-driven mechanism
3Device complexity
If the covering device is directly placed into the bone without prior expansion, then the surgical procedure is simplified, but the range of perfusion cannot be accurately controlled and the medical filler may flow around in the bone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary bone expansion using the porous expanding device before inserting the covering device, creating a pre-formed cavity that precisely defines the future filler distribution range and prevents filler migration to unintended areas
Solution Approach 2:
The invention separates the expansion phase from the filler delivery phase, using distinct devices for each function: the porous expanding device for cavity creation and the covering device for controlled filler perfusion, enabling precise spatial control of filler distribution
4Device complexity
If the mechanical expanding device is left in the body with the medical filler, then no covering device is needed, but the flow direction of the medical filler cannot be effectively controlled and the filler may flow out of the bone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the expanding function to a separate, retrievable porous expanding device, allowing the covering device to serve exclusively as the filler delivery system with controlled flow paths, ensuring filler remains contained within the intended bone region
Solution Approach 2:
The porous expanding device acts as an intermediary that creates the expansion cavity and then facilitates its own removal, enabling the covering device to subsequently control filler flow without interference, thus achieving both expansion and controlled perfusion functions
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 three-dimensional porous device effectively expands and stabilizes the vertebrae, ensuring precise filler distribution, reducing stress concentration, and promoting bone integration, while allowing for controlled expansion and contraction.
Implementation Method 1
the three-dimensional porous device is capable of automatically expanding after being compressed
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a
AI summary
A vertebral implant includes: a stuffing including: an perfusion device having a proximal end being an injection port, the perfusion device has at least one perfusion port; and a three-dimensional porous device covering at least part of the perfusion device and covering the at least one perfusion port, wherein the three-dimensional porous device is capable of automatically expanding after being compressed; a hollow tube having a distal end being connected with the proximal end of the stuffing by a detachable structure; and a medical filler being filled into the three-dimensional porous device via the hollow tube and the perfusion device.