Disposable Acetabular Reamer Ribbed Cutting Shell
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional reamer designs for acetabular tissue removal are prone to clogging due to small tissue cutting openings, limiting debris flow and increasing surgical time, patient trauma, and medical costs, while also restricting the incorporation of advanced tissue cutting surface features.
Innovation Solution
A disposable reamer with a partially hemispherical shell and rib portions that extend from a central region, featuring a serrated or razor edge cutting surface and customizable rake angle, allowing for increased tissue cutting surface area and efficient debris passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If discrete tissue cutting openings with closed perimeter are used, then the reamer structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the tissue cutting surface area is limited and debris flow is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting shell is segmented into multiple rib portions with gaps between them, transforming the traditional closed perimeter openings into an open ribbed structure. This segmentation increases the tissue cutting surface area while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from two-dimensional closed openings to a three-dimensional open ribbed structure that extends through the shell thickness. This dimensional change allows debris to pass through multiple pathways simultaneously, dramatically increasing effective cutting surface area without complicating manufacturing
2Strength
If small tissue cutting openings are used, then the reamer maintains structural integrity, but debris flow is limited causing clogging and increased surgical time
Solution Approach 1:
The shell is divided into multiple rib portions with gaps between them, creating multiple debris egress pathways. This segmentation maintains structural integrity through the distributed rib framework while dramatically improving debris flow and preventing clogging
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the reamer have different properties: the rib portions provide structural strength while the gaps between ribs provide debris flow pathways. This local differentiation allows the structure to simultaneously maintain integrity and enable efficient debris removal
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional closed perimeter openings are used, then the reamer design is conventional and easy to manufacture, but advanced tissue cutting surface features cannot be incorporated
Solution Approach 1:
By transitioning to a three-dimensional open ribbed structure, the invention creates additional design space on the cutting surfaces. This allows incorporation of advanced features like variable rake angles and specialized edge geometries while maintaining ease of manufacture through forming processes
4Area of moving object
If multiple rib portions with gaps are used, then tissue cutting surface area is increased and debris flow is improved, but the reamer structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting shell is segmented into multiple identical or similar rib portions. This segmentation increases cutting surface area while keeping individual rib portions simple and manufacturable, balancing complexity through modular repetition
Data Source
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AI summary
A disposable acetabular reamer designed to improve tissue removal efficiency is described. The reamer device comprises a reamer cutting shell and a reamer driver interface. The reamer cutting shell has a hemispherical structure with a plurality of spaced apart rib portions that extend from a central region located about an apex of the shell. A tissue cutting surface further extends along a longitudinal leading edge, trailing edge or both leading and trailing rib portions. The tissue cutting surface further comprises a series of alternating cutting teeth and notches which are bent at a rake angle.