Angled Guide Surgical Device for Spinal Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional awls used in spinal surgery are often linear and cannot access fastener holes positioned at angles, leading to difficulties in creating holes in vertebrae without damaging the awl tip or bending it, due to obstruction by other bodily objects.
Innovation Solution
A surgical device with a tubular outer shaft and an angled guide, featuring an elongated inner shaft with a pivotal device and access tool, allowing for axial translation and angular access to create holes in bony structures, such as vertebrae, using a knob and lever mechanism to translate linear force into angular force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a linear awl is used to create a hole in the vertebra, then the awl structure is simple, but the awl cannot access fastener holes positioned at angles due to obstruction by bodily objects
Solution Approach 1:
The awl is divided into multiple segments: a linear shaft portion and a separate angled tip portion. The angled tip can be detached and reattached at different angles, allowing the awl to access fastener holes at various angles while maintaining a simple linear shaft structure for easy insertion and control.
Solution Approach 2:
The awl tip is designed to be dynamically adjustable in angle relative to the shaft. The tip can be detached, repositioned at different angles, and reattached to the shaft, enabling the awl to adapt to different anatomical configurations and access angled fastener holes that a fixed linear awl cannot reach.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the awl tip is angled to access fastener holes, then access capability is improved, but the tip may be bent or damaged during striking
Solution Approach 1:
The awl is divided into a shaft portion and a separate angled tip portion that can be detached. The tip can be removed before striking operations and reattached after, preventing the angled tip from experiencing bending forces during impact while maintaining its angular configuration for access when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
A coupling mechanism serves as an intermediary between the shaft and the angled tip. This coupling allows the tip to be easily attached and detached, protecting the fragile angled tip from damage during striking by removing it before impact operations and reattaching it afterward for the actual hole creation.
3Ease of operation
If a linear awl is used, then the device is easy to operate, but it cannot create holes at angled positions without risking tip damage
Solution Approach 1:
The awl is segmented into a simple linear shaft and a separate angled tip. The shaft remains simple and easy to operate for insertion and positioning, while the detachable tip provides the necessary angular access capability. This segmentation allows the operator to maintain simplicity in the main shaft while adding versatility through the interchangeable tip.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical device is provided. The surgical device includes a tubular outer shaft having a longitudinal axis and an angled guide positioned on a first end of the surgical device. The angled guide may be angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the outer shaft. The surgical device includes an elongated inner shaft having a second end and a third end. The inner shaft is removably coupled to the outer shaft and configured to axially translate through the outer shaft. The surgical device includes pivotal device having at least one joint and an access tool. The at least one joint may be pivotally coupled to the third end of the inner shaft and to an end of the access tool. The pivotal device may be configured to axially translate through the angled guide into a deployed position.