Expandable Drill Bit for Combined Drilling and Grasping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical procedures require multiple entry points and instruments for drilling and grasping, leading to increased procedure duration, contamination risk, and patient recovery time due to the need for instrument switching and multiple hole drilling.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with a drill bit that can expand into multiple sections to function as both a drill and a grasping device, allowing for remote manipulation of components through a single passage without the need for additional instruments or entry points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple instruments are used for drilling and grasping, then functional versatility is improved, but device complexity and procedure duration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a drill bit and grasping mechanism into a single integrated surgical instrument. The drill bit can be configured to perform both drilling operations and grasping operations, eliminating the need for separate instruments and reducing procedural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical instrument is designed with multi-functionality, allowing the same device to perform multiple functions: drilling through bone and grasping surgical components. This universal design reduces the number of instruments needed while maintaining functional versatility
2Ease of operation
If multiple entry points are created, then access to internal structures is improved, but contamination risk and recovery time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-functional instrument allows a single entry point to serve multiple purposes: drilling the initial passage and subsequently grasping components through the same opening. This eliminates the need for additional incisions, reducing contamination risk and improving patient outcomes
3Productivity
If instrument switching is performed, then task completion is improved, but procedure duration and contamination risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the drill and grasping functions into one instrument, the patent eliminates the time-consuming process of removing the drill and inserting a separate grasping instrument. The single device can transition between functions without instrument changes, reducing procedure duration
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument maintains continuous useful action by remaining in place within the patient's body, transitioning from drilling to grasping mode without removal or replacement. This continuous presence eliminates idle time associated with instrument switching and reduces exposure to contamination
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument is provided. The surgical instrument has a drill bit employable in drilling procedures wherein the drill bit is made of a plurality of radially positioned drill bits which also may be utilized as a grasping device. As a result, the drill bit may not only drill into bone, but may also be used to grasp an object, such as a portion of the body. The present surgical instrument reduces contamination which may otherwise result from switching surgical instruments from a drill to a grasping mechanism or from the need to drill multiple holes into the patient's body.