Cervical Drill Guide Handle Rotation Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drill guides in spinal surgery are inflexible and cannot be easily adjusted or replaced, leading to inconvenient handling and potential screw pullout issues during cervical spine procedures due to their fixed handle assembly and lack of adjustability.
Innovation Solution
A drill guide apparatus with a handle assembly that can be selectively positioned relative to an extension member via a rotation mechanism, allowing for adjustable orientation and removable handle assembly, along with a guide member that can be independently positioned relative to the mounting plate, enhancing user convenience and reducing screw pullout risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed handle assembly is used in conventional drill guides, then the device structure is simple, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to inability to adjust or replace the handle
Solution Approach 1:
The drill guide is divided into separate modular components: a reusable mounting plate that attaches to the metal plate, and a removable handle assembly that can be detached and replaced. This segmentation allows the handle to be adjusted or replaced without affecting the mounting plate, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle assembly is designed to be dynamically removable and replaceable rather than fixed. The mounting plate includes a receiver that can engage with different handle assemblies, allowing the surgeon to adjust the handle configuration during the procedure for optimal ergonomics and access, while the overall device structure remains manageable through standardized interfaces.
2Productivity
If the entire drill guide must be replaced when parts become worn or damaged, then device reliability is maintained, but loss of time and productivity deteriorate due to replacement requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The drill guide system is segmented into a permanent mounting plate and replaceable handle assemblies. When a handle becomes worn or damaged, only that specific handle needs to be replaced rather than the entire drill guide, significantly reducing replacement time and improving productivity while maintaining reliability through the use of durable mounting plate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting plate is designed as a recoverable, reusable component that remains attached to the metal plate throughout the procedure. Only the handle assembly is discarded or replaced when worn, allowing the valuable mounting plate infrastructure to be recovered and reused, thereby reducing overall replacement time and cost.
3Reliability
If bone screws are implanted perpendicular to the plate, then the device complexity is reduced, but screw pullout resistance deteriorates due to insufficient bone engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting plate acts as an intermediary component that provides a stable base with pre-configured openings for screw placement. The plate's design with beveled or angled edges and specific opening configurations guides screw insertion at optimal angles for pullout resistance, reducing the complexity of achieving proper screw positioning while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting plate is pre-configured with openings positioned and angled to optimize screw pullout resistance before the actual screw insertion. This preliminary configuration of the plate allows screws to be inserted at the correct angles without requiring complex real-time adjustments during the procedure, reducing operational complexity while ensuring reliable screw fixation.
Data Source
AI summary
A drill guide apparatus for aligning a cervical drill bit and a target site in a vertebral body prior to drilling a hole in the vertebral body is disclosed. The apparatus includes a handle assembly, an extension member extending from the handle assembly, a mounting plate disposed on the distal end of the extension member, a guide member proximally extending from the mounting plate and a rotation mechanism operably connecting the handle assembly and the extension member. The rotation mechanism is configured to selectively position the handle assembly relative to the mounting plate. The guide member may include a single or double barrel configuration. The guide member is selectively positionable relative to the mounting plate. The mounting plate may include a protrusion for selectively engaging a second plate.