Spring-Loaded Orthopedic Adapter Hooking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical impacting tools in orthopedic procedures often experience loosening of surgical implements due to the force required for cavity formation, leading to unintended decoupling and potential patient harm or hindered cavity formation.
Innovation Solution
A surgical system featuring a spring-loaded adapter with a hook that automatically seats into a notch on the end effector, allowing for secure attachment and easy release, enabling reliable and consistent force application during bone impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual hammering or pneumatic driving techniques are used to impel the surgical implement, then cavity formation can be achieved, but the surgical implement may loosen and decouple from the impacting tool due to the force required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic locking mechanism where the adapter includes a movable locking element that transitions between locked and unlocked states. During impacting, the locking element engages with the end effector to maintain secure attachment under high force, while allowing controlled release when needed. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between maintaining reliable attachment and withstanding impacting forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter serves as an intermediary component between the impacting tool and the end effector. It incorporates a specialized interface with a hooked element that engages the end effector, distributing the impacting forces and preventing direct stress on the coupling between the end effector and the impacting tool. This intermediary structure prevents loosening and decoupling during high-force operations.
2Reliability
If the surgical implement is securely attached to withstand impacting forces, then cavity formation is effective, but the system complexity increases to prevent loosening
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into distinct modular components: the impacting tool, the adapter with its locking mechanism, and the end effector. This segmentation allows the complex locking function to be isolated within the adapter component, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining secure attachment. The modular design enables independent optimization of each component without increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter's locking mechanism is designed to automatically engage and lock the end effector in place during the impacting operation. The hooked element of the adapter naturally engages with the end effector's interface features under the influence of impacting forces, providing self-locking functionality without requiring additional actuators or complex control systems. This self-service mechanism achieves secure attachment while minimizing device complexity.
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 system ensures secure attachment and consistent force application, reducing the risk of unintended decoupling and improving cavity formation precision and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a spring-loaded lever having a hook at a forward end thereof that is configured to be releasably seated in the notch of the end effector
Data Source
AI summary
In general, orthopedic instrument adapters and methods of using orthopedic instrument adapters are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an adapter is configured to releasably attach to an end effector configured to impact bone. The end effector can be a broach, chisel, or other surgical implement. The adapter includes a spring-loaded hook that is configured to releasably seat in a cut-out formed in the end effector. The adapter is also configured to releasably attach to a surgical impacting tool, such as an orthopedic impactor, configured to drive impacting of the end effector relative to bone.