Articulating Drill Guide for Bone Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Arthroscopic procedures face challenges in accessing the femoral head due to the difficulty in inserting instrumentation through portals, necessitating a drill guide that can target any surface of the femoral head while maintaining contact with the bone to protect surrounding soft tissue.
Innovation Solution
An articulating drill guide with a mechanism to position itself in two configurations – a straight and a bent position, allowing instruments to be delivered at any angle while maintaining contact with the bone, enabling access to areas rigid instruments cannot reach.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If rigid instruments are used for bone targeting, then structural strength and stability are maintained, but accessibility to certain bone areas is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The drill guide is divided into multiple segments including a handle, shaft, and drill guide portion that can articulate relative to each other. This segmentation allows the instrument to bend and reach difficult-to-access bone areas while maintaining overall structural integrity and functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The drill guide incorporates an articulating mechanism with joints that allow dynamic movement between straight and bent configurations. This dynamic capability enables the instrument to adapt its shape to reach various bone surfaces while maintaining rigidity when needed for precise drilling operations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If articulating mechanisms are added to reach difficult areas, then accessibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The articulating mechanism is segmented into discrete articulating segments connected by joints, allowing independent movement of each segment. This modular approach provides multi-position capability while keeping each individual component relatively simple and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulating mechanism allows the drill guide to assume curved configurations to match the anatomy of bone surfaces. The ability to bend at multiple joints provides spherical or curved positioning capability that conforms to complex bone geometries without requiring overly complex mechanical structures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the drill guide articulates to reach target areas, then access to difficult bone surfaces is enabled, but maintaining contact with bone becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The drill guide's articulating mechanism allows dynamic adjustment of the drill guide portion's position and angle while maintaining contact with the bone surface. The operator can articulate the guide to reach target areas and then stabilize it in the desired position for precise instrument delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the drill guide have different functional properties - the handle and shaft provide structural support and articulation capability, while the drill guide portion is designed to maintain stable contact with the bone surface. This local differentiation ensures that each segment performs its specific function optimally.
Data Source
AI summary
Drill guides and methods for maintaining contact on bone in areas where rigid instruments cannot access. The drill guide is an articulating drill guide that comprises an articulating mechanism for articulating and positioning the guide in at least two positions, i.e., an undeployed (non-articulated or straight) position and a deployed (articulated or bent) position. The articulating drill guide delivers guide wires, drills and/or additional instruments at any angle while maintaining contact to the bone.