Rib-Rod Sliding Connector for Pediatric Spinal Deformity

Background

Young children with pronounced or rapidly developing spinal deformity are often surgically treated with an implanted system that partially corrects existing abnormal curvature and guides future spine growth.

For these traditional implant designs, the vertical rods that align the spine must be surgically lengthened approximately every six months to accommodate the patient’s bone growth. These multiple, foreseeable surgeries significantly stress both the child and the family. In small and slender children, the prominent implants may cause difficulty with healing of the tissue after surgery as well as discomfort and psychological burden from the visual prominence.

The Innovation

A novel scoliosis implant system designed by an orthopedic spine surgeon at The Children’s Mercy Hospital offers the potential for both lowered visual profile and a significant reduction in the number of secondary surgeries.

The Mercy Spinal Deformity System uses a series of simple unibody connectors, two arms of which firmly attach to a rib while two opposed arms establish a channel oriented along the spine. A sliding rod passes through that channel in a way that properly orients the patient’s spine and also permits spontaneous and gradual expansion of the distance between connectors and ribs as the patient grows with age..

The cross section of the rod closely matches that of the channel in each connector and both are slightly noncircular so that together they limit torsion.

Applications

• Infantile scoliosis
• Neuromuscular scoliosis requiring fixation to the pelvis
• Syndrome related scoliosis

Advantages

• Low profile
• Allows spontaneous directed linear spine growth without repeated surgery
• Rib location avoids spine exposure
• Flattened rod cross section helps control spine rotation
• Flexible system allows spine motion with lowered risk of stiffened spine

Status

• Non-provisional U.S. patent application
• Seeking partner to license, further develop, and market

File Number: 2008-008 

Disease: Musculoskeletal Disorders