Surgical Drill Guide Trigger Stop for One-Handed Depth Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drill guides require two hands to adjust the guide depth, are cumbersome, and may lead to inadvertent adjustments during surgical procedures, necessitating removal of the drill or guide from the patient.
Innovation Solution
A drill guide with a one-handed adjustment mechanism using a trigger that moves detents into and out of engagement with a guide stem to allow step-wise adjustment of the guide depth, enabling adjustments without removing the guide from the patient or drill.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional drill guides use a fixed-length sleeve with two-hand adjustment, then the guide depth can be adjusted, but the operation becomes cumbersome and time-consuming requiring removal of the drill or guide from the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the static, two-hand adjustment mechanism into a dynamic, one-hand adjustable system. The telescopic stem with movable detents allows the guide depth to be adjusted continuously during the surgical procedure without removing the drill or guide from the patient, making the adjustment process faster and more convenient while maintaining operational stability through controlled engagement points
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the adjustment mechanism into distinct functional components: a telescopic stem, multiple detents positioned at different depths, and a trigger actuator. This segmentation allows independent control of each adjustment increment, enabling precise one-handed operation where the trigger sequentially engages different detents to achieve the desired guide depth without requiring two hands or removal from the patient
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional drill guides allow easy depth adjustment, then the guide can be adapted to different depths, but inadvertent adjustment may occur during drilling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction through dynamics by implementing a controlled adjustment mechanism where the telescopic stem can only change length through deliberate trigger actuation. The stem transitions between stable engagement states with detents, allowing adaptability when needed while preventing inadvertent changes during drilling, as any adjustment requires conscious activation of the trigger mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning multiple detents at specific depth intervals along the telescopic stem before the surgical procedure begins. This allows the surgeon to select the appropriate depth increment in advance through controlled trigger actuation, ensuring the guide is properly adapted before drilling starts, while the pre-set detent positions prevent accidental adjustments during the actual drilling operation
Data Source
AI summary
Drill guides and related methods are disclosed herein, e.g., for use in surgical procedures. In some embodiments, a drill guide can include an adjustment mechanism that permits one-handed adjustment of the guide depth and does not require that the drill guide be removed from the patient or that the drill be removed from the drill guide when making an adjustment. The adjustment mechanism can include a trigger that moves first and second detents into and out of engagement with a guide stem to allow step-wise adjustment of the guide depth.