Multi-Pin Surgical Impactor Reduces Sharps Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pin impactors require re-loading during surgical procedures, leading to delays, increased handling of sharps, and potential risks due to the need to handle multiple pins, which complicates the stabilization of surgical instruments like femoral cutting blocks.
Innovation Solution
A multi-pin pin impactor with multiple releasable pin holders and a composite construction, allowing a surgeon to impact multiple pins without re-loading, reducing the number of steps and handling of sharps by maintaining pins in place through friction fit mechanisms and a ergonomic design that minimizes fouling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single-pin impactor is used, then the instrument structure is simple, but the surgical procedure requires repeated re-loading which increases time consumption and handling complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple pin holders into a single impactor body, allowing the surgeon to impact multiple pins without re-loading the instrument. The impactor body integrates several pin holders, each capable of holding a pin, thereby merging the function of multiple single-pin impactors into one device.
Solution Approach 2:
The impactor is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating multiple pin holders that can be used for different pin insertion points. The device can hold and impact multiple pins in sequence without requiring re-loading, making it a universal tool for multi-point fixation during surgery.
2Measurement precision
If the pin impactor is re-loaded during surgery, then a single pin can be precisely impacted, but the handling of sharps increases leading to safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
By combining multiple pin holders into one instrument, the patent reduces the number of times the surgeon must handle sharp pins during re-loading operations. The surgeon loads all pins into the multi-pin impactor at once, minimizing repeated exposure to sharp edges and reducing the risk of accidental injuries.
3Productivity
If multiple pin impactors are used simultaneously, then multiple pins can be impacted without re-loading, but the number of instruments and sharps handling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple separate pin impactors into a single multi-pin impactor device. Instead of using several individual impactors that would need to be passed back and forth, the surgeon uses one integrated device with multiple pin holders, reducing the total number of instruments and associated sharps handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-pin impactor serves as a universal instrument that can impact multiple pins in sequence without requiring the surgeon to switch between different single-pin impactors. This multi-functional design maintains high productivity while reducing instrument complexity and sharps handling risks.
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 multi-pin pin impactor streamlines surgical procedures by reducing the number of steps and handling of sharps, enhancing safety and efficiency by allowing simultaneous impact of multiple pins without re-loading, thus reducing the risk of injury and glove damage.
Implementation Method 1
a first pin release mechanism effective to releasably retain a first pin within the first pin holder
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-pin pin impactor and method of use are described. The pin impactor includes a body which can be held by a user and manipulated to re-position the pin impactor during use. First and second pin holders are attached to the body and each include a pin release mechanism effective to releasably retain a pin within the pin holder. An impaction can have a force applied to apply a driving force to a one of the pins. In use, a first pin held by the pin impactor is introduced into an aperture in a surgical instrument mounted on a bone. A force is applied to the pin impactor to drive the first pin into the bone. The orientation or position of the pin impactor is changed to introduce a second pin held by the pin impactor into a second aperture in the surgical instrument without re-loading the pin impactor and a force is applied to the pin impactor to drive the second pin into the bone.