Medical Drill Sensor Feedback for Depth Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual operation of electric drills in medical procedures, such as orthopedic surgery, leads to uncertainties in drilling depth and increased surgical risks due to varying bone hardness, potentially causing tissue damage from improper control.
Innovation Solution
A medical electric drill equipped with a drilling head, microprocessor, pressure sensor unit, torque sensor unit, and gravity sensor unit, which calculates displacement and determines the drilling work period based on pressure and torque signals, while the gravity sensor controls the drilling direction and angle, and includes a breaker and alert unit to prevent over-drilling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual operation of electric drill is used, then the orthopaedist can control the drilling process, but the drilling depth accuracy deteriorates due to varying bone hardness and lack of real-time feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system using pressure sensors, torque sensors, and gravity sensors that continuously monitor drilling parameters and provide real-time feedback to the microprocessor. This enables automatic adjustment of drilling depth and parameters, resolving the contradiction by providing precise depth measurement without requiring complex manual control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical control with an automated electronic control system. The microprocessor-based system substitutes the orthopaedist's manual depth estimation and control with automated sensor-based measurement and control, achieving precise depth accuracy while simplifying the operator's task.
2Loss of time
If the orthopaedist withdraws the drill to measure drilling hole depth, then the depth can be measured, but the surgery time increases and surgical risk remains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous drilling operation without interruption by implementing real-time depth monitoring through sensors. The microprocessor continuously calculates drilling head displacement and compares it with the preset depth, allowing the drilling process to proceed continuously and automatically stop when the target depth is reached, eliminating time loss from withdrawal and measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The drilling system performs self-monitoring and self-control through integrated sensors and microprocessor. The system automatically tracks drilling depth, monitors bone hardness variations, and controls the drilling head position without requiring external intervention or withdrawal for measurement, thereby reducing surgery time and maintaining surgical safety.
3Ease of operation
If the drill is controlled improperly to drill too deep, then the drilling operation continues, but the patient's body tissues are harmed greatly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary protective measures by presetting the target drilling depth before the operation begins. The microprocessor compares real-time displacement measurements with this preset value and automatically stops the drilling head when the target depth is reached, preventing over-drilling and tissue damage before it can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses continuous feedback from pressure sensors, torque sensors, and gravity sensors to monitor drilling parameters and provide real-time information to the microprocessor. This feedback mechanism enables automatic control and stopping of the drilling head at the precise target depth, eliminating the risk of harmful over-drilling while simplifying operator control.
4Manufacturing precision
If multiple sensors and microprocessor are added to calculate displacement and control drilling, then the drilling accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensors (pressure sensor, torque sensor, gravity sensor) and the microprocessor into an integrated control system. By merging these components and their functions into a unified system, the patent achieves high drilling precision while managing device complexity through systematic integration rather than separate independent components.
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 solution enhances the accuracy and safety of drilling operations by controlling depth, direction, and angle, reducing surgical risks and improving operational efficiency by automatically determining the drilling period and preventing over-drilling.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure-sensitive element 2211 corresponding to a diaphragm and a circuit board 2212 corresponding to a printed circuit board, the circuit board 2212 having a resistance value changing with the diaphragm deformation
Implementation Method 2
the gravity sensor unit 230 is used for detecting an acceleration variation of the drilling head 210
Data Source
AI summary
A medical electric drill includes a drilling head, a microprocessor, a pressure sensor unit, a torque sensor unit and a gravity sensor unit. The drilling head is for drilling a bone. The microprocessor is signally connected to the drilling head for calculating a displacement of the drill. The pressure sensor unit is for detecting a pressure change and provides a pressure change signal to the microprocessor. The torque sensor unit is for detecting a torque change and provides a torque change signal to the microprocessor. The gravity sensor unit is for detecting an acceleration variation of the drilling head and provides an acceleration voltage signal to the microprocessor. The microprocessor determines a work period of drilling the bone according to the pressure change signal and the torque change signal, and then the microprocessor calculates the displacement of the drilling head by using the acceleration voltage signal during the work period.