Sponsored by: Mayo Clinic
Project Summary
Mayo Clinic currently uses an aluminum intubation stylet as a template during spinal fusion surgery. The template is shaped to the pedicle screws attached to the spine. Once desired shape is achieved the template is removed from the pedicle screws and used as a guide to bend a titanium or cobalt chrome rod. During removal and template transfer operations, the aluminum rod can mistakenly deform. These deformations can be hard to see and cause the titanium or cobalt chrome rod to not fit correctly.
This fitment issue leads to increased surgery time, increased stress risers in the rod, increased surface nicks, and postoperative pedicle screw loosening or pullout. The St. Thomas Senior Design Team is tasked with developing a new template rod that maintains its shape once the desired shape is set.
Design Goal
Design a template that conforms for easy installation into pedicle screws. Once the desired shape is achieved, the template maintains the shape through the rod bending process.
Design Constraints
- Support lengths up to 80cm
- Diameter between 5-5.5mm
- Conforms to any pedicle screw location
- Maintains unique shape once removed to assist the rod bending procedure
- Cost less than $100
Left to right: Spinal rods; CGI of rod and pedicle screws
X-rays of installed rod and pedicle screws
Members of the Project Team
Student Team:
- Seth Broberg - Major: Mechanical Engineering
- Suleyman Ja’ffer - Major: Mechanical Engineering
- Ahmed Abusharar - Major: Mechanical Engineering
- Jared Hansen - Major: Mechanical Engineering
- Scott Porter - Major: Mechanical Engineering
Industry Representatives: Stephen Kuehn and Timothy Rossman
Faculty Advisor: Chris Haas
Pictured left to right: Seth Broberg, Suleyman Ja’ffer, Ahmed Abusharar, Jared Hansen, Scott Porter