Helical Broaching Punch for Low-Force Osteotomy Creation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional osteotomy punches cause excessive insertion forces, leading to bone fracture, increased healing time, and difficulty in removing medical devices due to reaction forces and osteotomies of incorrect diameters.
Innovation Solution
A broaching punch with multiple helical features that progressively cuts and expands the osteotomy, allowing for easier insertion and removal by unscrewing, reducing insertion forces and minimizing bone damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional osteotomy punches are used to create osteotomies by compressing and dilating bone, then the osteotomy can be created, but large insertion forces are required which can cause bone cracking or fracturing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental mechanism from compression/dilation to broaching/cutting. The broaching punch uses helical cutting edges that progressively remove bone material through a cutting action rather than forcing the bone to dilate, fundamentally changing the physical parameter of the interaction from compressive force to cutting force
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical compression and dilation system with a broaching system that uses helical cutting edges. This substitution transforms the mechanical action from one that relies on bone elasticity and dilation to one that progressively cuts and removes bone material, significantly reducing insertion forces
2Reliability
If traditional punches are used with high insertion forces, then osteotomies can be created, but the reaction force of the bone onto the punch makes it very difficult to remove
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by designing the punch to be easily removed through rotation and unscrewing motion, rather than requiring forceful extraction. The helical broaching features that create the osteotomy also facilitate easy removal by allowing the punch to be unscrewed from the bone, reversing the difficulty from insertion to removal
3Ease of operation
If traditional punches are removed from bone, then the device can be extracted, but the surrounding bone expands back into the pilot hole resulting in a smaller osteotomy diameter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by progressively broaching and removing bone material during insertion, gradually growing the osteotomy diameter to the desired size before the punch is fully inserted. This preliminary bone removal prevents the need for post-insertion expansion and ensures the final osteotomy diameter matches the punch diameter
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the osteotomy creation mechanism from dilation (which causes bone expansion and diameter reduction upon removal) to progressive broaching (which removes bone material). This parameter change ensures the osteotomy diameter remains consistent with the punch diameter throughout insertion and removal
4Productivity
If traditional punches are used to create osteotomies, then the procedure can be completed, but large insertion forces increase healing time and reduce functional strength of inserted devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the high-force compression and dilation mechanical system with a low-force broaching system. The helical cutting edges progressively remove bone material through cutting action, eliminating the need for high insertion forces that compromise bone strength and device functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental mechanical parameter from high-force compression to low-force cutting. The broaching mechanism uses rotational cutting edges that remove bone material with minimal axial force, preserving bone integrity and ensuring optimal conditions for device insertion and healing
Data Source
AI summary
A broaching punch for creating osteotomies that has a tip with helical broaching features extending along the outer surface to a tip. The helical broaching features are each formed by an edge that extends outwardly from and around the body of the tip and characterized by a predetermined angle, depth, spacing, and arrangement of various dimensional combinations that slowly and progressively broaching more and more bone material away during insertion, thereby slowly growing the diameter of the osteotomy until it reaches the desired diameter. Tapping features may be included proximately to the broaching features to allow for a newly formed hole to be tapped with threads.