Retrograde Cutter With Pivotable Tip For Bone Socket Drilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Arthroscopic surgical instruments face limitations in cutting tissue due to the narrow diameter of cannulas, requiring rotary cutters and drill pins for retrograde drilling of tunnels or sockets in bone, which can cause instability and intraarticular bone fragmentation.
Innovation Solution
A retrograde cutter with a pivotable cutting tip that articulates between a straight and flip position, allowing for retrograde drilling and cutting within the joint space with minimal incisions and reduced bone fragmentation, using a conical multi-blade drill configuration that engages the shaft to pivot between drilling and cutting modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a rotary cutter and drill pin are used for retrograde drilling of tunnels or sockets in bone, then the cutting function is achieved, but instrument instability and intraarticular bone fragmentation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting element is designed to pivot between a first position (aligned with the longitudinal axis of the shaft) and a second position (not aligned with the longitudinal axis). This dynamic positioning allows the cutting tip to engage bone effectively during retrograde drilling while maintaining instrument stability, eliminating the need for separate rotary cutters and drill pins
2Ease of manufacture
If a rotary cutter and drill pin are used for retrograde drilling, then tunnels or sockets can be drilled, but intraarticular bone fragmentation of tunnel rims occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable cutting tip transitions between aligned and non-aligned positions with the shaft, enabling controlled bone engagement that reduces fragmentation. The conical multi-blade configuration further optimizes cutting action to minimize bone debris while maintaining drilling effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The conical geometry of the multi-blade drill configuration changes the cutting parameters, allowing for more efficient bone removal with reduced fragmentation compared to traditional rotary cutters
3Ease of operation
If narrow cannulas are used for arthroscopic instrument insertion, then minimally invasive surgery is achieved, but the width of the cutting implement is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting tip pivots from an aligned position (for insertion through narrow cannula) to a non-aligned position (for effective cutting). This dynamic repositioning allows the instrument to pass through restricted cannula openings while deploying a cutting width sufficient for creating stable bone tunnels without fragmentation
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting tip utilizes angular displacement (another dimension) relative to the shaft axis to increase its effective cutting width while maintaining compatibility with narrow cannula insertion paths
Data Source
AI summary
A retrograde cutting instrument and method of retrograde drilling using such an instrument. A method of forming a socket includes providing a retrograde cutter, inserting the cutter into a joint with a blade of the cutter in a straight position, pivoting the blade to a non-straight flip position, locking the blade in the flip position, and retrograde drilling a socket using the blade in the flip position.