Retrograde Drilling Assembly for Bone-Preserving Counterbores
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drilling methods for creating bone tunnels in orthopedic procedures result in significant bone material removal, leading to increased surgical trauma, patient pain, and prolonged recovery times.
Innovation Solution
A drill assembly with a cannulated shaft and a distal tip that rotates from a first configuration to a second configuration, allowing for the creation of a reverse counterbore bone tunnel with reduced bone material removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If conventional rotary cutting instruments are used to drill bone tunnels, then bone tunnels can be created, but significant bone material is removed causing increased surgical trauma
Solution Approach 1:
The drill assembly reverses the conventional drilling approach by approaching the bone tunnel creation from the opposite direction. The distal tip enters through the distal bone surface and creates the tunnel retrograde toward the proximal surface, inverting the traditional drilling direction to minimize bone removal and trauma.
Solution Approach 2:
The bone tunnel creation process is divided into two distinct phases: first creating a pilot hole with the distal tip, then creating the counterbore portion. This segmentation allows for precise control of bone removal and enables the use of different cutting geometries for different portions of the tunnel.
2Loss of time
If conventional drilling methods are used, then bone tunnels are created, but patient pain and recovery time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drill assembly changes the physical parameters of the drilling process by using a reciprocating motion instead of continuous rotation, and by controlling the depth and orientation of cutting. This reduces the thermal load and mechanical trauma to the bone, thereby reducing patient pain and accelerating recovery.
3Ease of manufacture
If the distal tip rotates during drilling, then bone tunnel creation is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The distal tip automatically rotates through its own weight and the mechanical advantage of the lever arm formed by the cannulated shaft during reciprocating motion. This self-rotating mechanism eliminates the need for complex external rotation drives, maintaining device simplicity while enabling effective bone cutting.
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 drill assembly minimizes bone loss, reducing patient trauma and recovery time while enabling efficient bone tunnel creation.
Implementation Method 1
The cannulated shaft is slidable along the rigid rod
Data Source
AI summary
A drill assembly for creating a reverse counterbore bone tunnel while increasing bone preservation. The drill assembly including a housing having an actuation mechanism and a cannulated shaft connected to the actuation mechanism. The drill assembly also includes a rigid rod extending through the cannulated shaft. Engaging the actuation mechanism moves the cannulated shaft along the rigid rod. The drill assembly additionally includes a distal tip connected to the cannulated shaft and the rigid rod. Proximal movement of the cannulated shaft along the rigid rod causes the distal tip to rotate from a first configuration to a second configuration. In the second configuration, the distal tip extends at an angle relative to the cannulated shaft.