Project Details

This Implant consists of three parts. Two case sides and the "claw". The claw can be rotated 90 degress to dig between any two lumbar joints of the patient, achieving a stable foundation for a connecting bone to be formed. Then a screw is used to lock the claw in place. This in theory should resolve any prior pain resulting from Hernia.

The design faced challenges due to manufacturing processes and size constraints. The thread for the locking mechanism was integrated into a two-part case that sandwiched the claw. To accommodate the internal threading within the case, Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) was utilized for manufacturing. The requirement for the device to fit on the tip of a finger further complicated the design, as the smallest feature size achievable with DMLS was comparable to critical dimensions of the components.

All the additional tools needed for the insertion were designed with testing in mind. Further improvements are to come after the validation process for the first high fidelity prototype is complete.