Pin Wire Driver Gripping Mechanism for Consistent Bone Insertion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional surgical instruments for driving pins or wires into bones lack consistency and efficiency, particularly in providing a consistent grab point independent of wire diameter and requiring manual adjustments for different diameters, which can lead to suboptimal performance during procedures like Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Innovation Solution

A surgical instrument with a non-rotating nose and passive hold features that engage pins or wires at consistent diameters, combined with a mechanism allowing selective application of forces via axial movement of a second shaft, providing both passive and active engagement to facilitate consistent insertion across various wire diameters without manual adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional surgical instruments are used for driving pins or wires into bones, then manual adjustments are required for different wire diameters, but this leads to suboptimal performance and lack of consistency during procedures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different wire diametersVSAvoidmanual adjustment requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The instrument divides the gripping function into multiple independent gripping elements arranged along the cylindrical surface. These elements can independently engage with wires of different diameters, eliminating the need for manual adjustment while maintaining adaptability across various wire sizes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The instrument design incorporates a universal gripping mechanism that can accommodate multiple wire diameters simultaneously. The cylindrical arrangement of gripping elements allows the same instrument to effectively engage with different wire sizes without requiring manual reconfiguration, achieving both adaptability and ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional instruments require manual adjustments for different diameters, then device complexity increases, but this reduces procedural efficiency and consistency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustability for different diametersVSAvoidmanual adjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gripping elements are designed to automatically adapt to different wire diameters through their mechanical arrangement and elastic properties. The instrument performs the adjustment function itself without requiring external manual intervention, thereby maintaining adaptability while reducing device complexity and improving procedural efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If a rotating shaft is used to drive pins or wires, then the pin or wire rotates during insertion, but this may compromise insertion consistency and control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsertion speedVSAvoidinsertion consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of rotating the shaft to advance the wire, the invention inverts the mechanism by using axial movement of the shaft while maintaining wire rotation through the gripping elements. This inversion allows controlled rotation of the wire during insertion while maintaining insertion consistency through the axial progression mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP2959849B1Pin wire driver device
Publication Date: 2024.03.20 ZIMMER SURGICAL INC
  • EP2959849B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2959849B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2959849B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

An instrument for facilitating the insertion of a pin or wire into a bone or other structure. The instrument includes a body, a first shaft and a second shaft at least partially positioned within the body, an actuator in communication with the second shaft, a first holding feature, and a second holding feature. The first shaft may include a lumen about a longitudinal axis, with the first shaft being rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The second shaft may be axially mobile and may be positioned at least partially around the first shaft. The first holding feature may be located adjacent a first position along the longitudinal axis and may be able to passively apply a first force to an elongated member received in the lumen. The second holding feature may be capable of applying a second force to the elongated member received in the lumen.