Slotted Inner Tube Curved Bone Tunnel Drill Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical procedures for forming curved tunnels in bones are invasive and complex, requiring multiple intersecting drill openings that can lead to inaccuracies, increased operation time, and bleeding risks due to the need for drilling from different directions.
Innovation Solution
A drill bit guidance device with a slotted tube that collapses to guide the drill bit along a curved path, allowing for the formation of a U-shaped tunnel in a single curved path, eliminating the need for multiple openings and foreign objects like screws.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two separate intersecting drill openings are drilled from two different directions, then the curved tunnel can be formed, but the procedure becomes invasive and complex with increased bleeding risk
Solution Approach 1:
The drill bit guidance device is segmented into an outer tube and an inner tube that can slide relative to each other. The inner tube carries the drill bit and can be advanced independently within the outer tube, allowing the drill bit to follow a curved path defined by the slotted front end of the inner tube while the outer tube provides overall guidance and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The slotted front end of the inner tube acts as an intermediary mechanism that converts linear drill bit movement into curved tunnel formation. The slots guide the drill bit along a curved trajectory, eliminating the need for complex external guidance systems or multiple drilling approaches.
2Reliability
If two separate intersecting drill openings are drilled, then the curved tunnel can be formed, but the operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The curved path geometry is pre-defined by the slotted front end of the inner tube and the relative positioning of the inner and outer tubes. This preliminary configuration ensures accurate tunnel formation in a single pass, eliminating the need for repeated drilling and intersection attempts that would extend operation time.
3Manufacturing precision
If two separate intersecting drill openings are drilled, then the curved tunnel can be formed, but additional openings may be required due to miscalculations
Solution Approach 1:
The device allows for adjustable parameters including the curvature radius and the angle of the curved path, determined by the geometry of the slotted front end and the sliding distance of the inner tube within the outer tube. This adjustability enables precise adaptation to different anatomical requirements while maintaining accuracy in a single drilling operation.
4Device complexity
If a single curved path tunnel is drilled, then the surgical procedure is simplified, but guidance of the drill bit along the curved path is challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The slotted front end of the inner tube is designed with curved slots that physically guide the drill bit along a curved trajectory. This geometric curvature embedded in the device structure eliminates the need for complex external guidance systems or manual skill to maintain curved drilling paths.
Data Source
AI summary
A drill system for forming a curved tunnel in a bone includes a drill bit guidance device. The drill bit guidance device includes an elongated stationary outer tube extending along a first axis and an elongated inner tube. The elongated inner tube is configured to slidably move within the elongated stationary outer tube along the first axis and to exit from a distal end of the elongated outer tube. The elongated inner tube has a partially slotted distal end portion including a plurality of semi-cross-sectional slots extending perpendicular to the first axis. Each slot is configured to collapse inward in the slot direction when exiting the distal end of the elongated outer tube, thereby curving the distal end portion of the elongated inner tube.