Spring-Loaded Connector for Spine Surgery Retractor Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current retraction tools in spine surgery are cumbersome and require extensive labor to secure, often necessitating experienced personnel due to difficulties in positioning and adjusting hand-held blades and support arms, especially when multiple blades are involved.
Innovation Solution
A connector system that allows for provisional connection between retraction tools and support arms, enabling free rotation and adjustment without fully disconnecting, reducing the need for multiple hands and simplifying the arrangement of retraction tools during surgical operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional retraction tools are used to secure hand-held blades to support arms, then the retraction tools can provide stable support, but the positioning and securing process becomes cumbersome and requires extensive labor
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into distinct functional components: a receptacle for receiving the attachment structure, a holder block for engaging and securing the attachment, and a spring mechanism for providing automatic engagement force. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, making the overall securing process simpler and more reliable.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder block is designed to automatically engage with the attachment structure when inserted into the receptacle, using a spring mechanism that provides automatic retention. This self-service feature eliminates the need for manual tightening or complex securing operations, allowing surgical personnel to quickly secure blades without extensive labor or specialized skills.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple hand-held blades are secured to support arms, then adequate retraction coverage is achieved, but the complexity of positioning and securing increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is designed as a universal interface that can accommodate multiple different attachment structures from various hand-held blades through a standardized receptacle design. This multi-functionality allows the same support arm with multiple connectors to secure different blade types, simplifying the overall system while maintaining versatility for adequate retraction coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder block is pre-configured with engagement features that automatically align with and secure the attachment structure upon insertion. This preliminary action of pre-positioning the engagement mechanism eliminates the need for complex manual adjustment procedures when securing multiple blades, reducing the complexity increase that would normally accompany multi-blade configurations.
3Manufacturing precision
If experienced surgical personnel are used to operate retraction tools, then proper positioning and securing is achieved, but the requirement for specialized skill increases the operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded holder block automatically engages and secures the attachment structure with precise positioning without requiring manual adjustment or specialized knowledge. This self-service mechanism ensures consistent, precise blade positioning while eliminating the need for experienced personnel to perform complex securing operations, thereby reducing the skill level requirement while maintaining positioning precision.
4Reliability
If hand-held blades are securely fixed to support arms, then stable retraction is maintained, but intraoperative adjustments become difficult and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism in the holder block provides a dynamic retention system that maintains secure attachment during use but allows for easy release when needed. The spring-loaded design enables the holder block to maintain constant engagement force for stable retraction while permitting quick disengagement by simply pressing the release feature, facilitating easy intraoperative adjustments without compromising attachment stability during surgery.
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 connector system streamlines the process of securing retraction tools, reducing operational complexity and labor, allowing for more efficient access to surgical sites with fewer personnel requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a spring-loaded plug, a casing with an insertion channel adjacent to a first end
Implementation Method 2
The connector device operates such that when the trigger is pressed further into a cavity within the casing, the displacement of the trigger releases the spring-loaded plug such that a leading end of the plug advances into a region of the insertion channel
Implementation Method 3
an actuation mechanism on the attachment structure of the retraction tool, such as a knob threadably received on a post, may be actuated to fix the connector to the retraction tool
Implementation Method 4
a threaded extension at a second end opposite the first end
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
An apparatus for holding a retractor arm including a connector attachable at a free end of a support arm. The connector including a housing extending with a receptacle, a holder block movably disposed in the housing, and a bumper block movably disposed in the housing. The holder block adjustable between a retracted position where a tip of the holder block is outside of the receptacle and a holding position where the tip is at least partially within the receptacle. The bumper block being biased in an expanded position such that the holder block is held in the retracted position by the bumper block and movement of the bumper block from the expanded position to a compressed position releases the holder block. The connector is adapted to receive a post disposed on a retractor arm, the post being loadable into the receptacle to cause the bumper block to move.