Drill Bit with Soft Distal Tip for Bone Fixation Bore

Solution Overview

Problem

Drill bits used in orthopedic procedures often cause physical damage to fixation devices like nails and screws due to improper orientation or mismatched hardness, leading to compromised effectiveness in bone repair and medication delivery.

Innovation Solution

A drill bit with a distal portion made of a material softer than the fixation device but harder than bone, designed to pass through a bore in the fixation device to create a passage for screws without damaging the device, and optionally formed from polymers like PEEK or metal alloys with controlled hardness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a drill bit with hardness greater than the fixation device is used, then the drill bit can effectively drill through bone, but it causes scoring or physical damage to the fixation device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling efficiencyVSAvoiddamage to fixation device

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The drill bit features a distal portion with differentiated material properties - the outer portion has hardness less than the fixation device to prevent damage, while the inner portion maintains higher hardness for effective bone drilling. This local quality variation allows the drill bit to perform both functions without compromise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The drill bit is constructed as a composite structure with at least two different materials: an outer material softer than the fixation device and an inner material harder than the fixation device. This composite construction enables the drill bit to protect the fixation device from damage while maintaining sufficient hardness for bone drilling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a drill bit with hardness less than the fixation device is used, then the fixation device is protected from damage, but the drill bit cannot effectively drill through bone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamage to fixation deviceVSAvoiddrilling efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The drill bit features a distal portion with differentiated material properties - the outer portion has hardness less than the fixation device to prevent damage, while the inner portion maintains higher hardness for effective bone drilling. This local quality variation allows the drill bit to perform both functions without compromise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The drill bit is constructed as a composite structure with at least two different materials: an outer material softer than the fixation device and an inner material harder than the fixation device. This composite construction enables the drill bit to protect the fixation device from damage while maintaining sufficient hardness for bone drilling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Length of moving object

If the drill bit is too large in diameter relative to the bore, then it can create a larger passage in the bone, but it contacts the fixation device and causes physical damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassage diameterVSAvoidcontact damage to fixation device

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The drill bit features a distal portion with differentiated material properties - the outer portion has hardness less than the fixation device to prevent damage, while the inner portion maintains higher hardness for effective bone drilling. This local quality variation allows the drill bit to perform both functions without compromise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The drill bit is constructed as a composite structure with at least two different materials: an outer material softer than the fixation device and an inner material harder than the fixation device. This composite construction enables the drill bit to protect the fixation device from damage while maintaining sufficient hardness for bone drilling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

Prevents damage to fixation devices during drilling, ensuring effective bone stabilization and medication delivery by maintaining the structural integrity of the fixation system while allowing for precise hole creation.

Implementation Method 1

At least an outer portion of the distal portion of the drill bit has a hardness that is less than a hardness of the fixation device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHardness control:

Data Source

PatentUS9517075B2Drill bit and method for preparing a bone for a fixation screw

Publication Date: 2016.12.13 SPINAL GENERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A bone fixation system includes a fixation device configured to be positioned at a target area of bone comprising two ends connected by a shaft and further comprising a bore formed through the shaft configured to receive a fixation screw. The system further includes a drill bit sized and configured to pass through the bore to prepare the surrounding bone to receive a second fixation device. At least a distal portion of the drill bit is configured to pass through the bore. The fixation device is made of a first material and wherein the distal portion of the drill bit comprises at least an outer portion made of a second material. The second material of the drill bit has a hardness that is less than the hardness of the first material of the fixation device.