One-Handed Surgical Bone Plate Retaining Instrument
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instruments for retaining bone plates require both hands to operate, making it difficult for surgeons to handle and release the plate, especially in confined surgical scenarios, and the actuation mechanism can be cumbersome and unreliable.
Innovation Solution
A surgical retaining instrument with a support member and actuating device featuring movable arms that modify the spacing between plate retaining jaws, allowing for one-handed operation and elastic deformation to facilitate release, along with a rotatable and lockable design for improved handling and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the sliding mechanism for releasing the bone plate is positioned close to the surgical site, then the release action can be performed, but it cannot always be achieved unhindered and the surgeon cannot reliably grip the outer sleeve in all surgical scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the actuating mechanism from the distal end (close to surgical site) to the proximal end (handle end) of the instrument. This spatial repositioning allows the surgeon to actuate the release mechanism from a position that is easily accessible and controllable, eliminating the problems of hindered movement and unreliable gripping that occur when the mechanism is positioned near the constrained surgical site.
2Ease of operation
If the actuating mechanism requires two hands (one for gripping, one for actuating), then the clamping and release functions can be performed, but both hands are occupied making handling difficult in confined surgical scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the gripping function and the actuating function into a single hand-operated mechanism. The trigger or button at the proximal end can be actuated by the thumb or index finger while the rest of the handle remains gripped by the same hand, allowing both clamping and release operations to be performed with one hand, thereby freeing the other hand for surgical tasks.
3Reliability
If the outer sleeve is moved back to release the bone plate, then the tongues spread apart and the plate retaining jaws release the plate, but the sliding movement occurs very close to the surgical site and cannot always be achieved unhindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a transmission mechanism (such as a linkage or cable system) that transmits the actuating force from the proximal end to the distal end of the instrument. This intermediary mechanism allows the surgeon to perform the release action from a convenient position at the handle end, while the actual release mechanism operates at the distal end near the surgical site, combining ease of operation with reliable release function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easier and more reliable grasping and releasing of bone plates with one hand, reducing the complexity of handling and improving surgical efficiency by allowing manipulation of the actuating mechanism away from the surgical site.
Implementation Method 1
The support member may be elastically deformable. In this case, the actuating device may be designed to elastically deform the support member in order to modify the mutual spacing between the plate retaining jaws
Implementation Method 2
The resisting force accompanying the elastic deformation can be directed in such a way that the support member (and thereby the plate retaining jaws) is pushed into its initial position
Implementation Method 3
the support member is rotatably mounted with respect to the arms
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a surgical retaining instrument for bone plates. The retaining instrument comprises a carrying element and two plate retaining jaws arranged on the carrying element. The mutual distance of the plate retaining jaws can be changed in order to pick up or release a bone plate. Furthermore, an actuating device is provided, which has two arms, which can be moved relative to each other and which are designed to change the mutual distance of the plate retaining jaws. The carrying element is rotatably mounted relative to the arms.