Bone Cleaning and Milling Heads With a Shared Motor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current bone milling systems require manual cleaning of bone stock, which is time-consuming and can lead to contamination risks due to direct contact with bone tissue, and often necessitate duplicative power units for cleaning and milling processes.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a base unit with a motor, a cleaning head equipped with a brush or grater, and a mill head with a milling element, where the motor actuates both components to automate the cleaning and milling processes, reducing manual handling and eliminating the need for duplicate power units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual cleaning of bone stock is performed using curettes, rongeurs, brushes and cobbs, then the cleaning process can be completed, but it takes 15 minutes or more and requires direct contact with bone tissue which creates contamination risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning speedVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical cleaning tools (curettes, rongeurs, brushes, cobbs) with an automated powered cleaning head that uses mechanical brushes and graters driven by an electric motor. This substitution eliminates direct hand contact with bone tissue, reducing contamination risk while significantly increasing cleaning speed from 15+ minutes to a much shorter duration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning head is designed to perform the cleaning function autonomously without requiring continuous manual manipulation. The powered brush and grater components automatically clean the bone stock as it passes through the chamber, allowing the system to service itself rather than requiring constant operator intervention with manual tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate powered cleaning head and mill head units are used, then each function can be optimized independently, but duplicative power units increase device complexity and cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional optimizationVSAvoidnumber of power units

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a single powered base unit with an electric motor that can drive different cleaning head and mill head attachments. This universal power source eliminates the need for multiple separate powered devices while maintaining the ability to optimize each head's function independently through specialized attachment designs. The motor acts as a multi-functional power platform serving both cleaning and milling operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the power sources of what would traditionally be separate powered cleaning and milling devices into a single shared motor unit. The base unit houses one motor that can be coupled to either a cleaning head or mill head, merging two previously separate powered systems into one integrated platform, thereby reducing overall device complexity and eliminating duplicate power components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 integrated system significantly reduces cleaning time and minimizes contamination risks by mechanizing the bone cleaning process, while providing a single unit for both cleaning and milling, enhancing efficiency and safety in surgical procedures.

Implementation Method 1

A motor internal to the base unit is actuated to result in a like actuation of a cleaning head internal cleaning element when the cleaning head is coupled to the base unit. A motor internal to the base unit is actuated to result in a like actuation of a mill head internal mill element when the mill head is coupled to the base unit.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS12403021B2System for processing bone stock including a bone cleaning head, a bone milling head and base that powers both the cleaning head and the milling head

Publication Date: 2025.09.02 STRYKER CORP

AI summary

A system for cleaning bone that includes a base unit with a motor, a cleaning head with a cleaning element and a mill head with a mill element. Both the cleaning head and the mill head are designed to be coupled to the base unit. Both the cleaning element and mill element have features that facilitate their coupling to the motor. When the cleaning head is attached to the base unit, a motor in the base unit rotates the cleaning element to remove soft tissue from the bone so as to clean the bone. The mill element is placed on the base unit and the cleaned bone placed in the mill head. The actuation of the base unit motor results in the actuations of the mill element. The actuation of the mill element converts the cleaned bone into bone chips.