Modular Surgical Driver with Adjustable Bucket Length
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical systems for treating spinal disorders, such as scoliosis and degenerative disc disease, face challenges in efficiently aligning and stabilizing vertebral members during surgical procedures, particularly in adjusting the length of surgical drivers to accommodate varying bone screw lengths and ensuring secure fixation without unintentional loosening.
Innovation Solution
A surgical driver system with a modular design, featuring a knob and collar mechanism that allows for adjustable bucket length, enabling compatibility with different bone screw lengths and incorporating a bushing lock and engagement indicators for precise alignment and secure connection, along with a collet mechanism for flexible engagement with bone fasteners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-length surgical driver is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate varying bone screw lengths
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical driver is divided into multiple segments: a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a bucket component that can be disposed of. This segmentation allows the reusable proximal portion to be combined with different bucket components to accommodate varying bone screw lengths, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The bucket component is designed to be nested within or attached to the proximal portion of the surgical driver. This nesting arrangement allows for a compact modular design where different length configurations can be achieved by selecting appropriate bucket components, maintaining versatility while controlling overall device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a modular surgical driver with adjustable length is used, then compatibility with different bone screw lengths is improved, but the risk of unintentional loosening increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is pre-configured with engagement features that automatically lock the bucket component to the proximal portion when assembled. This preliminary action of designing self-locking engagement features ensures secure fixation is achieved automatically during assembly, preventing unintentional loosening while maintaining the adjustable length capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar acts as an intermediary component between the proximal portion and the bucket component. It provides a controlled interface that secures the modular connection, allowing length adjustment through component selection while preventing unintended loosening through its locking engagement mechanism.
3Reliability
If a secure locking mechanism is added to prevent loosening, then reliability is improved, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The collar serves as an intermediary that provides both secure locking and ease of operation. Its design incorporates engagement features that automatically lock components together for reliability, while also allowing for straightforward manual assembly and disassembly through simple engagement and disengagement actions, balancing both requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument includes a first member. A second member is disposable with the first member and includes an inner surface. An actuator defines a cavity and is releasably connectable with the first member. A third member is engageable with the inner surface. The first member and the second member are translatable relative to the actuator. Systems, spinal constructs, implants and methods are disclosed.