Drilling Back. Design and Development of a Directional Drilling Device New Spinal Anchoring Technique

摘要

The function of the human vertebral column, the spine, is to provide stability and mobility to the human body. In addition, the spine protects vulnerable organs and the spinal cord from injury. An unstable condition of the spine creates a direct threat to the spinal cord and often results in back pain or restricted body motions. Hence, stability of the spine has to be restored. Causes of an unstable spine include vertebral displacement and rotation, segmental instability caused by fractures, infection or tumor diseases, osteoporosis (the loss of bone tissue due to aging) and scoliosis (a spinal deformity disease). The goals of spinal surgery are to restore spinal stability and to correct the slope of the spine. At present these goals are achieved by connecting a metal frame to the stable parts of the spine. The unstable vertebrae are re-located and re-aligned and their position is fixed by connecting them to the metal frame. The implanted frame provides a means of bone fixation and maintains the correction achieved during the operation until fusion of the vertebrae is established with the next few months. The implant system is not removed unless infection problems arise.