Sterile Rotary Drive Tool Adapter for Surgical Instruments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solutions for connecting a sterile drill bit to a non-sterile drill through a sterile bag face issues such as incomplete leaktightness, risk of contamination, and complex designs that increase manufacturing costs, while existing interface systems do not allow for precise axial alignment and may impede rotation.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a flexible envelope with a circular opening, a connector piece with a cylindrical distal portion, and a tubular ring that forms a conduit, allowing the connector piece to turn freely while maintaining axial alignment and leaktightness without impeding rotation, and an indicator ring for verification of proper coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sterile bag is used to connect a sterile drill bit to a non-sterile drill, then sterility is maintained, but leaktightness is incomplete and contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sterile adapter as an intermediary component that connects the sterile surgical instrument to the non-sterile power drill through a sterile barrier. The adapter includes a sterile interface that couples to the instrument and a non-sterile interface that couples to the drill, with a sterile barrier between them. This mediator allows torque transmission while maintaining sterility and preventing contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling system is divided into separate sterile and non-sterile zones. The adapter is segmented into a sterile portion that contacts the surgical instrument and a non-sterile portion that contacts the power drill, with a sterile barrier separating them. This segmentation allows each zone to maintain its required sterility level while still enabling functional connection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a complex interface system is used to ensure leaktightness, then contamination is prevented, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a sterile barrier in the form of a flexible film or pouch that forms the sterile interface. This thin film barrier provides leaktight separation between sterile and non-sterile zones without requiring complex mechanical sealing systems. The flexible nature of the barrier allows it to conform to the coupling interfaces while maintaining sterility.
3Reliability
If additional seals and complex assembly steps are implemented, then leaktightness is improved, but manufacturing and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sterile barrier function with the coupling interface structure into an integrated assembly. The sterile adapter integrates the sterile barrier, the sterile coupling interface, and the non-sterile coupling interface into a single component that requires minimal assembly steps. This merging eliminates the need for separate seals and complex assembly procedures while maintaining leaktightness.
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary drive tool for coupling of a surgical instrument, the rotary drive being intended to be enclosed within an envelope in such a way that the rotary drive tool can be used in a sterile environment. The rotary drive tool has a body with an end configured to removably engage the envelope intended to enclose the rotary drive tool. A coupling piece is disposed within the body, the coupling piece engaging and driving, in rotation, a surgical instrument.