Orthopaedic Reamer Collar Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hybrid reamer designs in orthopaedic surgery lack improvements for secure connection and ease of use, particularly in minimally invasive procedures, where visibility and incision size are critical.
Innovation Solution
A reamer system with a collar that slides between two positions to securely lock an orthopaedic shell within a holding recess, allowing for stable connection and easy cleaning, and quick switching between locked and unlocked states for efficient connection and disconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional crossbridge or cruciform reamer connector is used, then the reamer can be securely connected to the driver, but the incision size must be larger and visibility into the surgical site is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The reamer connector is divided into separate components: a reamer body with a holding recess and a separate collar that can rotate independently. This segmentation allows the collar to be manipulated for connection/disconnection while the reamer body maintains a compact profile suitable for minimally invasive procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The collar is designed to rotate dynamically between locked and unlocked positions relative to the reamer body. This dynamic mechanism allows secure connection during surgery while enabling quick disconnection without requiring large incisions or complex manual manipulation
2Area of stationary object
If a hybrid reamer design with attachment features is used, then the incision size is reduced and visibility is improved, but the connection security and ease of use lack improvements
Solution Approach 1:
The collar features self-locking and self-unlocking capabilities through its rotational mechanism. When rotated to specific positions, the collar automatically engages or disengages from the reamer body without requiring additional tools or complex manual operations, improving ease of use while maintaining compact design
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic rotational collar provides a simple yet effective mechanism for securing and releasing the reamer connection, making the operation easier compared to static attachment features while maintaining the benefits of reduced incision size
3Area of stationary object
If a hybrid reamer design with attachment features is used, then the incision size is reduced and visibility is improved, but the cleaning process becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the collar from the reamer body, the design creates distinct components that can be independently cleaned and sterilized. This segmentation eliminates hard-to-reach areas where debris might accumulate in integrated designs, facilitating easier cleaning while maintaining the compact profile for minimally invasive surgery
Solution Approach 2:
The removable collar can be extracted from the reamer body for separate cleaning and sterilization processes. This extraction allows thorough cleaning of both components without the constraints of an integrated design, addressing the cleaning difficulty while preserving the benefits of the hybrid reamer structure
Data Source
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AI summary
A driver (20) for an orthopaedic reamer includes a drive shaft (22) defining an axis of rotation (AR); a reamer connector (24) connected to the drive shaft and having at least one first annular portion (46) about the axis of rotation and at least one second annular portion (48) about the axis of rotation radially spaced from the at least first annular portion to define at least one holding recess (50) therebetween; and a collar (26) associated with the reamer connector and slideable in a direction of the axis of rotation between a first position and a second position, the collar being unaligned with the at least one holding recess circumferentially about the axis of rotation in the first position and, in the second position, being rotatably locked to the reamer connector and having a portion aligned with the at least one holding recess circumferentially about the axis of rotation.