Orthopedic Drill Bit with Pivoting Tip for Bone Tunnel Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional orthopedic drill procedures remove more bone than necessary during tunnel formation for anchor installation, leading to increased patient pain and prolonged healing times.
Innovation Solution
A configurable orthopedic drill bit with a pivotally mounted cutting tip that forms a first bore of one diameter and a reverse counterbore of a larger diameter upon partial withdrawal, minimizing bone removal by using a cam surface and bearing surface mechanism to pivot the cutting tip between drilling positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional drilling procedures are used to form a bone tunnel, then a tunnel of appropriate diameter for receiving an anchor is created, but excessive bone material is removed leading to increased patient pain and longer healing periods
Solution Approach 1:
The drilling process is segmented into two distinct phases: first drilling a pilot hole with a smaller diameter, then forming a reverse counterbore with a larger diameter. This segmentation allows precise control over bone removal, creating only the necessary socket volume for anchor reception rather than removing excessive material throughout the entire tunnel length.
Solution Approach 2:
The drill bit operates in reverse mode by forming the counterbore in the opposite direction from the entry point. The cutting tip pivots to drill backward from the exit side, creating the enlarged socket portion without requiring forward drilling that would remove unnecessary bone material along the entire tunnel path.
2Loss of substance
If a drill bit with a pivotally mounted cutting tip is used to form both a first bore and a reverse counterbore, then bone material removal is minimized, but the device complexity increases due to the cam surface and bearing surface mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions are merged into a single drill bit instrument. The same cutting tip performs both the initial pilot hole drilling and the subsequent reverse counterbore formation, eliminating the need for separate drilling instruments and reducing overall procedural complexity despite the added pivoting mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting tip transitions from a fixed alignment to a pivoted orientation through the cam surface mechanism. This dynamic adjustment allows the single cutting tip to effectively perform two different drilling operations (forward pilot hole and backward counterbore) by changing its angular position relative to the drill shaft.
Data Source
AI summary
An orthopedic drill bit that is configurable to form a first bone tunnel having a first bore when inserted through a bone and a second, larger bore as the drill is partially withdrawn from bone to produce a reverse counterbore for accepting an anchor. The drill bit has a shaft with a pivotal cutting tip that is movable from a narrow boring configuration into a wider boring configuration. The drill bit has a body enclosing the shaft that is biased into engagement with the cutting tip. Rotation of the body allow a user to move the cutting tip from the narrower bore configuration used to drill a pilot hole into a wider bore configuration used to drill a reverse counterbore for accepting the anchor.