Published Technical Disclosure Archive

Advanced Intervertebral Cage Apparatus and System with Enhanced Deployment and Stability Features

Publication ID: 24-11857429_0006_PTD
Published: October 28, 2025
Category:Direct Improvements & Enhancements

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Advanced Intervertebral Cage Apparatus and System with Enhanced Deployment and Stability Features,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857429_0006_PTD, Published October 28, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857429_0006_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,429.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

An improved intervertebral cage apparatus and system that incorporates advanced features for enhanced deployment, stability, and bone fusion, addressing the limitations of existing intervertebral devices.

Background and Problem Solved

Current intervertebral devices are often static, lacking the ability to adapt to changing vertebral endplate geometries, and may not provide optimal bone graft volume or device contact with vertebral endplates, leading to subsidence and compromised bone fusion. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing advanced features that improve deployment, stability, and bone fusion outcomes.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The advanced intervertebral cage apparatus and system comprises a sensor for monitoring cage expansion, a controller for adjusting deployment force based on sensor feedback, an integrated anchor system with retractable anchors, a real-time monitoring system with a camera and processing unit, and an adaptive geometry feature utilizing shape-memory alloys. These features enable optimal vertebral endplate contact, efficient bone fusion, and prevention of subsidence.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new inventive concept introduces a paradigm shift in intervertebral device design by incorporating advanced features that dynamically adapt to the vertebral environment, providing a significant improvement over existing static devices. The inventive step lies in the integration of these features to achieve optimal deployment, stability, and bone fusion outcomes.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments may include variations in sensor types, anchor designs, and shape-memory alloy materials. Additionally, the system could be modified for use in other orthopedic applications, such as spinal fusion or joint replacement.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The advanced intervertebral cage apparatus and system has significant commercial potential in the orthopedic and spinal implant markets, offering improved clinical outcomes and reduced complications. The target market includes orthopedic surgeons, hospitals, and medical device manufacturers.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A61 A61F2/442
A A61 A61F2/447
A A61 A61F2/4611
A A61 A61F2/4601
A A61 A61F2002/2835
A A61 A61F2002/305
A A61 A61F2002/30019
A A61 A61F2002/3055
A A61 A61F2002/30092
A A61 A61F2002/30143
A A61 A61F2002/30331
A A61 A61F2002/30359
A A61 A61F2002/30448
A A61 A61F2002/30462
A A61 A61F2002/30467
A A61 A61F2002/30471
A A61 A61F2002/30545
A A61 A61F2002/30556
A A61 A61F2002/30579
A A61 A61F2002/30581
A A61 A61F2002/30584
A A61 A61F2002/30588
A A61 A61F2002/30593
A A61 A61F2002/30594
A A61 A61F2002/30774
A A61 A61F2002/30785
A A61 A61F2002/30789
A A61 A61F2002/30828
A A61 A61F2002/4415
A A61 A61F2002/4627
A A61 A61F2310/00011

Field of Art

Orthopedic medical devices, specifically intervertebral implant systems with a focus on surgical deployment techniques and spinal fusion technologies

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A biomedical engineer or orthopedic medical device designer with advanced degrees in bioengineering, expertise in surgical implant design, knowledge of materials science, and understanding of spinal anatomy and biomechanical constraints

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the PTD's disclosed variations represent predictable extensions of the source patent's core intervertebral cage technology by introducing sensor-based deployment, adaptive geometry, and enhanced monitoring systems that address known limitations in existing spinal implant designs. The proposed modifications leverage standard engineering approaches to improve device performance through incremental technological enhancements. These variations would be considered obvious combinations of known techniques in medical device engineering with a reasonable expectation of success.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Intervertebral cage apparatus with lateral split dividing top and bottom portions
PTD Variation
Integrated sensor for monitoring cage expansion and controller for adjusting deployment force
Obviousness Reasoning
A PHOSITA would recognize that adding real-time monitoring to an existing cage design represents a predictable solution for improving surgical precision, using standard sensor and control technologies commonly applied in medical device engineering
Source Patent Element
Method of positioning intervertebral cage in disc space with specific deployment techniques
PTD Variation
Shape-memory alloy enabling adaptive geometry to match vertebral endplate contours
Obviousness Reasoning
Modifying implant geometry using responsive materials is a known technique in orthopedic design, representing an obvious improvement to optimize device-tissue interface and reduce potential complications
Source Patent Element
Intervertebral cage with potential for mechanical interaction between components
PTD Variation
Integrated anchor system with retractable anchors for securing cage to vertebrae
Obviousness Reasoning
Developing mechanical stabilization features is a predictable engineering solution to address known challenges of implant subsidence, utilizing standard mechanical design principles
Source Patent Element
Surgical deployment method involving relative force application and component interaction
PTD Variation
Real-time monitoring system with camera and processing unit for deployment analysis
Obviousness Reasoning
Implementing visual monitoring during surgical procedures represents an obvious technological enhancement using standard imaging and computer vision techniques to improve surgical outcomes
Source Patent Element
Static intervertebral cage design with limited adaptability
PTD Variation
Dynamic bone graft volume calculation and material selection algorithm
Obviousness Reasoning
Developing computational methods to optimize bone fusion represents a predictable application of engineering design principles to improve medical device performance
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11857429 and the disclosed technological variations, a person having ordinary skill in the art would find the claimed innovations obvious and therefore unpatentable. The proposed modifications represent predictable technological extensions that would be apparent to a skilled practitioner, combining known techniques with a reasonable expectation of successfully improving intervertebral implant performance and surgical outcomes.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,429
TitleIntervertebral cage apparatus and system and methods of using the same
Assignee(s)EIT Emerging Implant Technologies GmbH