Pedicle Screw System

We collaborated with a surgeon at the University of Maryland Medical Center and the Office of Research & Development to develop prototypes of a novel pedicle screw system. The new design would improve the wound closure and healing process related to spinal surgery. Surgical tools are generally manufactured in titanium or stainless steel for strength and biocompatibility, but to minimize the costs of prototyping while giving the appearance of real components, we machined the prototype pieces in aluminum. This also allowed for repeated insertion and removal of threaded pieces during demonstration that plastic parts wouldn’t tolerate.