Surgical Implant Bending Tool With Threaded Driver Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instruments lack the ability to efficiently bend and implant surgical staples or bone fusion plates to match the specific anatomy of a patient's bone, leading to suboptimal bone fusion and stability.
Innovation Solution
A surgical bending instrument with a distal force applicator and a handle mechanism that allows for bending and implanting surgical staples or bone fusion plates by changing them to a distracted configuration suitable for bone fixation or fusion sites, using a threaded shaft and driver system to apply forces for precise implantation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing surgical instruments are used, then surgical staples or bone fusion plates can be implanted, but they cannot be efficiently bent or adjusted to match the specific anatomy of a patient's bone
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical instrument incorporates a rotatable shaft that can be dynamically adjusted during the procedure. The shaft rotates within a threaded hole in the body, allowing the driver to be positioned at different angles and locations to accommodate various bone anatomies and implant configurations, making the instrument adaptable rather than static
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument is divided into separable components including a body, a rotatable shaft, and a driver. The driver can be detached from the shaft and replaced with different drivers suited for different implant types (staples, plates, screws), providing versatility without requiring a completely different instrument for each application
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed driver system is used, then the instrument structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate various staple sizes or allow easy removal and adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The driver is not fixed but can be rotated and repositioned along the shaft. The shaft itself can rotate within the body's threaded hole, creating a dynamic system that can accommodate different driver orientations and positions for various staple and plate configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The driver can be easily removed from the shaft and replaced with a different driver for subsequent implants. This allows the surgeon to use one instrument body for multiple different implant types by simply exchanging the driver component, providing versatility without permanent complexity
3Manufacturing precision
If manual bending techniques are used, then no special bending mechanism is needed, but bone fusion stability and alignment are suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The driver automatically applies precise bending forces to the implant through its mechanical engagement with the shaft and body. The threaded connection and rotational mechanism self-regulate the force application, eliminating the need for complex external bending devices while achieving precise implant shaping
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft acts as an intermediary between the surgeon's manual rotation of the handle and the driver's application of bending force to the implant. This mechanical intermediary translates simple rotational motion into precise controlled bending forces, achieving high precision without requiring the surgeon to directly manipulate the implant
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
Enables precise fitting of surgical staples and bone fusion plates to patient anatomy, enhancing bone fusion stability and alignment, while allowing for easy removal and adjustment to accommodate various staple sizes.
Implementation Method 1
A shaft comprising a threaded portion is rotatably engaged within the threaded hole. A distal extension of the shaft comprises a driver... the driver and the shaft are separate components that are engaged with one another. The shaft communicates mechanical forces applied at the proximal handle to the driver.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and a method are provided for a surgical bending instrument for bending surgical implants. The surgical bending instrument comprises a body including a longitudinally extending threaded hole. A shaft comprising a threaded portion is rotatably engaged within the threaded hole. A handle is coupled to a proximal end of the shaft, and a distal extension of the shaft comprises a driver. A distal force applicator comprises the driver centered between a first grip and a second grip. In some embodiments, the distal force applicator is configured to retain a surgical staple, such that the surgical staple may be changed to a distracted configuration suitable for implantation at a bone fixation or fusion site of a patient. In some embodiments, the distal force applicator is configured to bend a bone fusion plate so as to tailor the plate to specific anatomy of the patient's bone.