Sleeveless Driver for Spinal Bone Fastener Fixation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal implant systems and surgical instruments face challenges in providing precise and stable fixation of bone fasteners, particularly in reducing screw loosening and biologic agent leakage, while maintaining accuracy and ease of use during spinal surgery.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument system comprising a sleeveless driver with a rotatable inner sleeve and a handle, designed for use with bone fasteners, including features like a Torx tip for engagement and a retention mechanism to prevent disengagement, along with a navigation component for precise positioning and torque control, facilitating robotic guidance and minimally invasive procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional spinal implant system is used, then the surgical procedure can be performed, but screw loosening and biologic agent leakage occur due to insufficient fixation stability
Solution Approach 1:
The driver is divided into distinct functional components: an outer sleeve that engages with the bone fastener shaft and an inner sleeve that engages with the threaded surface of the bone fastener receiver. This segmentation allows independent control of engagement and fixation functions, improving overall fixation stability while preventing harmful effects like screw loosening.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner sleeve is disposed within the outer sleeve, creating a nested structure where the inner sleeve can rotate relative to the outer sleeve. This nesting arrangement enables precise torque control and stable fixation while preventing biologic agent leakage through the integrated seal mechanism.
2Manufacturing precision
If a rotatable inner sleeve with engagement element is added, then engagement precision with bone fastener threaded surface is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The driver design integrates multiple functions into a unified structure: the outer sleeve provides engagement with the bone fastener shaft, the inner sleeve provides engagement with the threaded surface, and the relative rotation mechanism provides torque control. This multi-functionality achieves high engagement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Measurement precision
If navigation component with sensor is integrated, then positioning accuracy during surgery is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptor serves as an intermediary component that connects the image guide to the driver assembly. This intermediary structure integrates navigation capabilities into the existing surgical instrument without requiring complete redesign of the entire system, thereby improving positioning accuracy while limiting the increase in device complexity.
4Ease of operation
If removable handle connectable with part is used, then ease of operation and instrument assembly are improved, but reliability of connection may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The removable handle is pre-configured with engagement features that align with corresponding features on the driver part. This preliminary configuration ensures that when the handle is attached, proper engagement occurs automatically, maintaining connection reliability while enabling easy assembly and disassembly for sterilization and storage.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument comprises a first member including a drive engageable with a first mating surface of a bone fastener. A second member is rotatable relative to the first member and includes an engagement element connectable with a second mating surface of the bone fastener. A part is disposed with the first member and being alternately connectable with an actuator and an adaptor attachable with an image guide. Systems, surgical adaptors, spinal implants and methods are disclosed.