Retaining Ring Glenoid Reamer Assembly for Secure Ball Hex Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical reamer systems with ball hex drivers and reamer heads, including internal hex housings, rely on pressure to maintain assembly, leading to potential detachment due to gravity or misalignment, disrupting complex surgical procedures.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of a retaining ring within the internal hex housing of the reamer head that expands and contracts to securely retain the ball hex driver, allowing for adjustable alignment and preventing unintentional detachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pressure is used to maintain assembly between ball hex driver and reamer head, then assembly is maintained during operation, but detachment occurs due to gravity or misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly stabilityVSAvoiddetachment due to gravity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A retaining ring is introduced as an intermediary component between the ball hex driver and reamer head. The retaining ring expands to engage with the driver, providing a mechanical locking mechanism that prevents detachment caused by gravity or misalignment, while allowing intentional removal when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If pressure-based assembly is used, then components remain connected during surgery, but disassembly for cleaning and sterilization becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoiddisassembly ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining ring is designed with dynamic properties, allowing it to expand for secure retention during surgery and contract for easy removal. This dynamic behavior enables the system to switch between two states: a locked state for surgical reliability and an unlocked state for convenient disassembly and sterilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If ball hex driver alignment is adjusted for complex surgical procedures, then surgical flexibility is improved, but unintentional detachment occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment adjustabilityVSAvoidassembly retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining ring provides preliminary anti-action by preemptively counteracting the detaching forces that arise during alignment adjustments. The expanded retaining ring creates a mechanical barrier that prevents the driver from detaching even when gravity or misalignment forces act on the assembly during complex surgical maneuvers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentUS20250380953A1Self-retaining glenoid reamer

Publication Date: 2025.12.18 ZIMMER INC

AI summary

A surgical reamer assembly can include a reamer head configured to ream a bone of a patient. The reamer head can include an internal hex housing. A ball hex driver can be insertable into the internal hex housing. The surgical reamer assembly can also include a retaining ring located within the internal hex housing. The retaining ring can be configured to retain the ball hex driver within the reamer head.