Slotted Surgical Hammer for Parallel Force Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical tools lack the ability to accurately apply force parallel to the shaft or shank of a surgical device during implant revision surgeries, necessitating an improved tool for precise force direction.
Innovation Solution
A surgical hammer with a slot parallel to the shaft, internal cavities filled with metal ball bearings or shot, and a convex-shaped proximal end to maintain contact with the shaft, allowing efficient force application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional hammer is used to apply force to a surgical device shaft, then force can be applied, but the force direction cannot be accurately controlled to be parallel to the shaft
Solution Approach 1:
The slot acts as an intermediary element that engages with the shaft of the surgical device. By placing the slot over the shaft, it serves as a guide that constrains the hammer head's movement, ensuring that the applied force is directed parallel to the shaft axis. This intermediary structure enables precise force direction control without requiring complex alignment procedures by the operator.
Solution Approach 2:
The slot is pre-positioned on the hammer head at a specific location and orientation before use. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the hammer is brought to the surgical device, the force application point and direction are already predetermined and aligned with the shaft axis, eliminating the need for complex real-time alignment operations.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the hammer head is solid without internal cavities, then structural strength is maintained, but sound reverberation and bounce-back increase
Solution Approach 1:
The internal cavities filled with metal ball bearings or shot serve as beforehand cushioning elements. When the hammer head strikes the surgical device, these loose fillers absorb impact energy and reduce bounce-back and sound reverberation. The cushioning effect is built into the hammer head structure in advance, providing harm reduction without compromising the overall structural strength of the hammer head body.
3Productivity
If the slot is not positioned at the longitudinal midportion of the hammer head, then manufacturing is simpler, but force application efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The slot is positioned at a specific location (the longitudinal midportion) of the hammer head where it provides optimal force application efficiency. This localized positioning ensures that the force is applied at the most effective point for transmitting energy to the surgical device shaft, improving productivity. While this specific positioning may increase manufacturing complexity slightly, the functional benefit justifies the added precision in placement.
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 precise and efficient force delivery to surgical devices, reducing sound reverberation and bounce-back, and enhancing user comfort through ergonomic design.
Implementation Method 1
At least a portion of each of the first internal cavity and the second internal cavity is filled with metal ball bearings or shot
Implementation Method 2
The first internal cavity and the second internal cavity are partially or completely filled with metal ball bearings or shot
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A surgical hammer (100) that includes a handle (102), a shaft (104) extending from the handle and a hammer head (106) connected to the shaft. The hammer head includes a slot (108) extending through the hammer head and in fluid communication with a distal end of the hammer head, a first internal cavity (612) within the hammer head spaced laterally from the slot, and a second internal cavity (614) within the hammer head spaced laterally from the slot.