Orthopedic Driver Indicator Assembly for Guide Pin Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for maintaining alignment between a guide pin and a hollow shaft of a drill bit in orthopedic procedures lack precision and reliability, often requiring complex electronic systems or user-dependent techniques to correct for misalignment.
Innovation Solution
An orthopedic driver system with a guide pin and a tool assembly featuring an indicator assembly that provides immediate, visible, audible, or vibratory feedback to indicate misalignment, allowing for continuous real-time adjustment of the drill bit's position relative to the guide pin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a guide pin is used to guide the drill bit, then the variability of the direction of advance is reduced, but misalignment between the drill bit shaft and guide pin still occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs drag feedback between the drill bit shaft and guide pin to indicate misalignment. The user senses the drag force and adjusts the drill bit position accordingly, creating a feedback loop that improves alignment reliability while maintaining the simple guide pin structure.
2Measurement precision
If complex electronic sensing systems are used to determine drill bit angle, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the natural drag interaction between the drill bit shaft and guide pin as a self-sensing mechanism. The misalignment itself generates the feedback signal (drag force) that the user perceives and acts upon, eliminating the need for external electronic sensors while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex electronic sensing and processing systems with a simple mechanical feedback mechanism. The drag force between moving mechanical parts (drill bit shaft and guide pin) provides the alignment information that would otherwise require electronic sensors, motors, and software to detect and process.
Data Source
AI summary
An orthopedic driver is provided that includes an elongate tubular body and an indicator assembly. The indicator assembly has a housing that has at least one opening and a visual indicator disposed in the at least one opening. The visual indicator is configured to be coupled with a guide pin such that lateral movement of the elongate tubular body relative to the guide pin causes the visual indicator to move between a flush or recessed configuration within the housing and an extended configuration. In the extended configuration, the visual indicator extends outward of an outer surface of the housing. The flush or recessed configuration corresponds to alignment of the guide pin relative to the elongate tubular body and the extended configuration corresponds to misalignment of the guide pin relative to the elongate tubular body.