Orthopedic Rotary Tool Flywheel Coupling for Reaction Torque Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Orthopedic rotary tools generate high reactionary torque during bone cutting procedures, leading to surgeon fatigue, wrist injury, reduced precision, and excessive noise, particularly in procedures like total hip arthroplasty, requiring significant force for tool advancement.
Innovation Solution
An orthopedic rotary tool with a drive system, actuator system, and coupling mechanism that accumulates rotational energy, allowing for controlled delivery of torque impulses through a flywheel to mitigate reactionary torque by decoupling the flywheel from the output element when torque thresholds are exceeded, using mechanical and potentially magnetic interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If continuous rotational energy is delivered to the output element, then cutting power is maintained, but reactionary torque increases causing surgeon fatigue and wrist injury
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by delivering rotational energy in controlled impulses rather than continuous delivery. The flywheel accumulates rotational energy and releases it in periodic torque impulses through controlled engagement and disengagement, transforming continuous power delivery into periodic action that maintains cutting effectiveness while reducing cumulative reactionary torque exposure to the surgeon.
Solution Approach 2:
The flywheel performs preliminary action by accumulating rotational energy before delivery to the output element. This energy storage phase allows the system to prepare and store rotational energy, then release it in controlled impulses, thereby smoothing out torque variations and reducing peak reactionary torque transmitted to the surgeon during cutting operations.
2Power
If high torque is continuously applied to the output element, then bone cutting effectiveness is improved, but noise levels increase
Solution Approach 1:
By transforming continuous torque application into periodic torque impulses, the system reduces the duration and frequency of high-torque events that generate noise. The controlled engagement and disengagement of the flywheel creates intermittent cutting action that maintains effectiveness while minimizing continuous noise generation during bone cutting procedures.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the flywheel is continuously engaged with the output element, then rotational energy is efficiently transmitted, but reactionary torque is not limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamics by making the flywheel engagement with the output element variable rather than fixed. The controlled engagement and disengagement mechanism allows the system to dynamically adjust the coupling state based on operational requirements, enabling efficient energy transmission during engagement while limiting reactionary torque exposure during disengagement phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The periodic engagement and disengagement of the flywheel creates cycles of efficient energy transmission followed by torque limitation phases. This rhythmic coupling and decoupling maintains overall energy efficiency while providing regular intervals where reactionary torque is limited, protecting the surgeon from cumulative torque exposure.
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
Reduces surgeon fatigue and wrist injury, enhances cutting precision, and minimizes noise by effectively managing reactionary torque, ensuring stable and precise bone cutting with reduced operator effort.
Implementation Method 1
an energy storage element configured to accumulate rotational energy
Implementation Method 2
the energy storage element is configured to deliver a torque impulse to the output element
Implementation Method 3
interactions transitioning the coupling mechanism between the coupled states and the decoupled states
Implementation Method 4
using mechanical and potentially magnetic interactions
Data Source
AI summary
An orthopedic rotary tool may include a drive system including a first rotary component and a second rotary component, an energy storage element, an actuator system including a first actuator element disposed on the first rotary component and a second actuator element disposed on the second rotary component, a coupling mechanism, and an output element. The coupling mechanism may be operable between coupled states and decoupled states. During operation, the energy storage element may accumulate rotational energy via the drive system and relative rotation between the first rotary component and the second rotary component may cause interactions between the first actuator element and the second actuator element. The interactions may transition the coupling mechanism between the coupled states and the decoupled states. When the coupling mechanism is in the coupled states, the energy storage element may be configured to deliver a torque impulse to the output element.