Adjustable Microfracture Handle With Sliding Striking Mechanism

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional microfracture awls inefficiently apply force at the distal tip and lack the ability to adjust the angle of the distal tip relative to the bone, making it difficult for surgeons to precisely create small holes in bones, especially in confined surgical sites.

Innovation Solution

A microfracture device with a handle and shaft featuring a sliding mechanism that allows for force application near the distal tip and adjustable angle, enabling the distal tip to be positioned at various angles relative to the bone by moving the sliding mechanism along the shaft, thereby allowing precise force application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If force is applied at or near the handle of conventional microfracture awls, then the instrument structure is simple, but only a small fraction of the force is applied at the distal tip

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforce application efficiency at distal tipVSAvoidinstrument structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The striking surface is made movable relative to the shaft through a sliding mechanism that allows adjustment along the shaft's length. This dynamic positioning enables the striking surface to be placed optimally close to the distal tip when needed, maximizing force transmission efficiency while maintaining a relatively simple overall instrument structure through the use of a straightforward sliding assembly within a channel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A sliding mechanism acts as an intermediary component between the handle and the shaft, enabling adjustable positioning of the striking surface. This intermediary mechanism allows force to be effectively transmitted from the handle through the sliding assembly to the distal tip, solving the force application problem without requiring complete redesign of the entire instrument structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the distal tip is positioned at a fixed angle in conventional microfracture awls, then the instrument structure is simple, but the surgeon must remove and replace the instrument to adjust the angle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveangle adjustment capabilityVSAvoidinstrument structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The distal tip's angular position is made dynamic through a sliding mechanism that allows the tip to move to different angular positions relative to the shaft. This enables the instrument to adapt to various surgical requirements by adjusting the distal tip angle on-the-fly, while the overall structure remains relatively simple through the use of a sliding assembly that moves within a channel rather than requiring complex articulation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the surgeon manipulates the entire microfracture awl to adjust the angle, then no additional mechanism is needed, but it is difficult and sometimes impossible to adjust the angle when there is limited space at the surgical site

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveangle adjustment easeVSAvoidinstrument structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The instrument is segmented into movable components, specifically the distal tip and striking surface that can slide independently relative to the shaft. This segmentation allows the distal tip angle to be adjusted without moving the entire instrument, enabling angle changes in confined surgical spaces where manipulating the full instrument length would be impractical or impossible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If multiple microfracture awls with different distal tip angles are used, then each instrument has a fixed optimal angle, but the surgeon must exchange instruments which loses time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical efficiencyVSAvoidinstrument structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single microfracture awl instrument is designed to perform multiple functions by allowing the distal tip and striking surface to slide to different positions, creating different effective angles. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple specialized instruments with fixed angles, improving surgical productivity by allowing angle changes without instrument exchange, while the added complexity is limited to a relatively simple sliding mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12089855B2Adjustable microfracture handle

Publication Date: 2024.09.17 CONMED CORP

AI summary

A microfracture device for creating small holes in a bone. The microfracture device includes a handle having a body extending along a central longitudinal axis with a proximal end and a distal end; a shaft connected to the distal end of the body, the shaft having a distal tip; wherein the distal tip extends at first angle relative to the central longitudinal axis; a sliding mechanism slidably engaged with a surface of the body and moveable between a first configuration and a second configuration; and wherein the sliding mechanism further comprises a striking surface extending therefrom, wherein the striking surface is positioned at a second angle to the central longitudinal axis that is at least substantially similar to the first angle.