Bone Screw Inserters With Detachable Cement Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bone anchor assembly devices require complex setup in the surgical field and lack compatibility with pre-existing hardware, making them single-use and inefficient for delivering bone cement or flowable materials.
Innovation Solution
A reusable bone screw inserter system comprising a driver and adapter that allows for torque application to a bone screw assembly, compatible with cement delivery devices, enabling setup outside the surgical field and facilitating the delivery of bone cement through the threaded shank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a combined driver and cement delivery device is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability and compatibility with pre-existing hardware deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional components: a reusable driver portion and a detachable cement delivery device. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the driver maintains compatibility with pre-existing hardware while the cement delivery device can be selectively attached, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The driver portion is designed with universal features that enable it to function with both standalone bone screw insertion and integrated cement delivery. The standardized interface allows attachment of various cement delivery devices, making the driver a multi-functional platform that adapts to different surgical needs without requiring custom devices.
2Device complexity
If setup is performed in the surgical field, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The driver and cement delivery device are pre-assembled into a ready-to-use configuration before entering the surgical field. This preliminary assembly eliminates time-consuming on-site setup operations, allowing the surgical team to immediately begin the procedure while maintaining full functionality.
3Device complexity
If a single-use combined device is used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity deteriorates due to inability to reuse
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the reusable driver from the single-use cement delivery device, the system enables reuse of the expensive driver component across multiple procedures. The driver's standardized interface allows it to be reused with different cement delivery devices, significantly improving productivity and reducing waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows the cement delivery device to be discarded after single use while preserving and reusing the driver portion. This selective disposal approach recovers valuable surgical instrumentation for future procedures while eliminating the need to discard the entire assembly, thereby improving productivity.
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
Enables efficient, reusable insertion of bone screws with integrated cement delivery, reducing setup complexity and enhancing compatibility with existing surgical tools.
Implementation Method 1
a driver adapter configured to impart rotational force to the driver
Implementation Method 2
the distal adapter body includes a lock configured to prevent axial separation of the driver and the driver adapter
Data Source
AI summary
Bone screw drivers are disclosed that apply torque to a threaded shank of a bone screw assembly and receive a cement delivery device to introduce bone cement through the threaded shank. Also disclosed are driver adapters that couple to a driver in order to facilitate application of torque thereto. The driver adapter can decouple from the driver after implanting a bone screw shank to allow the subsequent use of a cement delivery device in combination with the driver. The devices can be reusable and can employ a number of additional components, including retaining and counter-torque sleeves, driving handles, etc. Further, the devices can allow setup of a bone screw inserter assembly outside a surgical field, such that a completed assembly can be passed to a surgeon or other user for immediate use.