Electric Orthopedic Impactor Tool with Rotary-to-Linear Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Orthopedic surgeons face discomfort and limited tool orientation due to the need to wield hammers or use pneumatic impact tools for bone preparation, which can cause joint stress and inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
An electrically driven orthopedic impact tool with a housing, tube assembly, reverse impact plate, anvil, and impact mechanism, featuring a motor, piston, and rotary to linear conversion mechanism, allowing for controlled forward and rearward impacts through a three-position trigger switch and energy level control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a hammer or pneumatic impact tool is used to transmit impaction force to the broach tool, then the impaction force can be delivered to prepare the bone, but the physician experiences joint stress and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual hammering mechanism with an electric motor-driven impact mechanism. The motor (270) connects through a rotary to linear conversion mechanism (216, 208, 210) and piston (236) to generate controlled impacts, eliminating the need for the physician to physically wield a hammer and thereby reducing joint stress while maintaining impaction force delivery.
2Productivity
If a pneumatic impact tool is used to deliver impaction force, then the impaction can be delivered efficiently, but the physician's ability to orient the tool is limited due to the air hose connection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the pneumatic system with an electric motor system. The electric motor (270) is housed within the tool housing (102) and powered by a battery pack (110), eliminating the external air hose connection. This allows the physician to freely orient and position the tool without constraints, while the motor-driven impact mechanism maintains efficient impaction delivery.
3Force
If a hammer is used to strike the broach tool, then the impaction force can be transmitted, but the operation becomes tiresome for the physician
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual hammering operation with an automated electric motor system. The motor (270) driven by battery power generates the impaction forces through the rotary to linear conversion mechanism and piston, completely eliminating the need for the physician to repeatedly strike the tool with a hammer, thereby removing the source of physician fatigue.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool is designed to be self-powered through the battery pack (110) that energizes the motor (270). The system generates its own operating power without requiring external pneumatic connections or manual energy input, making the operation autonomous and eliminating the tiresome repetitive hammering action.
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
The tool reduces joint stress and enhances tool orientation by providing controlled, efficient impact delivery with adjustable energy levels and modes, improving surgical efficiency and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
an impact mechanism comprising: a motor, a piston disposed within the first tube portion of the tube assembly, a rotary to linear conversion mechanism drivingly connecting the motor to the piston
Implementation Method 2
a rotary to linear conversion mechanism drivingly connecting the motor to the piston
Implementation Method 3
a ram disposed in the second tube portion and movable into contact between the reverse impact plate and the forward impact surface
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are orthopedic impact tools and methods of use thereof. The orthopedic impact tools can include a housing, a tube assembly, a reverse impact plate, an anvil and an impact mechanism. The housing can include a hand grip portion and an impact mechanism housing portion. The tube assembly can include a first tube portion and a second tube portion. The reverse impact plate can be disposed in between the first tube portion and the second tube portion. The anvil can include a forward impact surface. The impact mechanism can include a motor, a piston, a ram, and a rotary to linear conversion mechanism drivingly connecting the motor to the piston. The piston can be disposed within the first tube portion and the ram can be disposed in the second tube portion and movable into contact between the reverse impact plate and the forward impact surface.