Orthopedic Impactor with Ratchet and Spring Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for inserting the femoral stem during hip replacement surgery lack consistency in impact application, leading to abnormal space formation in the femur and potentially deteriorating the surgical prognosis.
Innovation Solution
An orthopedic impactor is designed with a detachable adapter for a rotary power tool, featuring a ratchet coupling mechanism and spring-loaded striking system to apply controlled impacts, ensuring consistent force delivery and adjustable frequency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a doctor manually applies blows to the broach using a mallet, then the broach can be inserted into the femur to form a space, but the magnitude and direction of the impact are not constant, causing abnormal space formation and deteriorating surgical prognosis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical system (doctor using mallet) with a powered mechanical system (rotary power tool driving the impactor). This substitution eliminates human variability in impact delivery, providing consistent magnitude and direction of forces while maintaining the functional outcome of inserting the broach into the femur.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of impact delivery from variable manual blows to controlled, consistent impacts delivered by a mechanical system. The rotary power tool provides repeatable rotational motion that translates to consistent linear impacts, standardizing the magnitude, frequency, and direction of forces applied to the broach.
2Device complexity
If manual impacting is used, then the procedure is simple to perform, but the impact magnitude and direction vary, leading to abnormal space formation in the femur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the simple manual tool system with a more complex but reliable powered system. The rotary power tool coupled with the adapter provides consistent, controlled impacts that ensure reliable surgical outcomes, accepting increased device complexity as necessary to achieve outcome consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a ratchet coupling mechanism that provides mechanical feedback and control. This one-way coupling ensures that rotational motion is converted to controlled linear impacts, preventing reverse motion and ensuring each impact is delivered with consistent parameters, thereby improving reliability.
3Productivity
If inconsistent impacts are applied to the broach, then the insertion process is quick, but an abnormal space is formed in the femur requiring reoperation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous, consistent impacting action through the rotary power tool. The continuous rotation drives repeated, uniform impacts on the broach, ensuring the space is formed correctly in one procedure rather than requiring corrective reoperations, thus maintaining productivity while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic impacts delivered at regular intervals through the rotary mechanism. This rhythmic, controlled impacting ensures each blow is delivered with consistent parameters, creating a uniform space in the femur that prevents the need for reoperation while maintaining efficient progress.
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 orthopedic impactor enables safer and more precise insertion of the femoral stem by applying consistent impacts at regular intervals, reducing the risk of fractures and improving surgical outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
a striking part which is moved, while compressing a first spring, in a first direction by the rotation of the striking part transfer part and then moved in a second direction opposite to the first direction by a restoring force of the first spring
Implementation Method 2
the tool coupling part and the first rotating part may be in a ratchet coupling so as to be rotated in association with each other only in the one direction
Implementation Method 3
a tool coupling part receiving a rotational force from the rotary power tool
Data Source
AI summary
An impactor according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises an adapter detachably coupled to a rotary power tool, wherein the adapter includes: a case part; a tool coupling part receiving a rotational force from the rotary power tool; a first rotating part rotating in association with rotation of the tool coupling part in only one direction among rotation directions of the tool coupling part; a striking part transfer part rotating in association with rotation of the first rotating part; a striking part which is moved, while compressing a first spring, in a first direction by rotation of the striking part transfer part and then moved in a second direction opposite to the first direction by a restoring force of the first spring; and a force transfer part moved in the second direction by contact with the striking part.