Surgical Button Inserter with Axial Release Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The insertion of surgical buttons into bone tunnels during minimally invasive procedures is challenging due to difficulties in controlling the rotation of the button during insertion, often resulting in issues with the threaded rod breaking off, especially when the dimensions of the surgical opening are minimized.
Innovation Solution
A button inserter apparatus with an inserter handle, elongated shaft, and inserter head featuring opposing engagement projections and a button engage and release assembly that allows for axial movement and selective release of the surgical button, utilizing a mechanical or electrical actuator to manage the insertion and rotation of the button within the bone tunnel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a grasper is used to grasp and push the button into the tunnel, then the button can be inserted through the tunnel, but the grasper cannot effectively limit rotation of the button during insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The inserter device is divided into distinct functional components: a grasper for holding the button, a shaft for transmission, and a rotator mechanism for controlled rotation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function effectively, with the rotator providing precise rotational control that the grasper alone cannot achieve.
Solution Approach 2:
The inserter shaft acts as an intermediary between the grasper and the button, transmitting forces and motions while the rotator mechanism serves as an intermediary for controlling rotation. This intermediary system enables precise rotational control during insertion that cannot be achieved by the grasper alone.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the surgical opening dimensions are minimized for minimally invasive procedures, then patient trauma is reduced, but control over button rotation during insertion becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The rotator mechanism introduces rotational control in a different dimensional approach, allowing the surgeon to control button rotation through a rotational degree of freedom rather than relying solely on the limited spatial constraints of the minimally invasive opening. This adds a new dimension of control that overcomes the limitations of small access openings.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotator mechanism serves as an intermediary device that compensates for the limited control available through small surgical openings. It provides the necessary rotational control function that cannot be achieved directly through the constrained access of minimally invasive procedures.
3Reliability
If a threaded rod is used to engage and insert the button, then the button can be secured through the tunnel, but the threaded rod can break off during insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion mechanism is segmented into a grasper for holding the button, a shaft for transmission, and a rotator for controlled rotation. This replaces the single threaded rod mechanism with multiple simpler components, each performing a specific function, thereby reducing the risk of breakage while maintaining securing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The inserter device is designed as a disposable single-use instrument, eliminating the risk of threaded rod breakage by removing the need for reusable complex mechanisms. The entire inserter is discarded after a single use, ensuring no residual risk of breakage remains in the patient.
4Ease of operation
If the button is made thin to fit through small openings, then minimally invasive access is enabled, but the tapped hole must be small in diameter increasing breakage risk
Solution Approach 1:
The threaded rod engagement feature is extracted from the button design and replaced with a groove-based engagement system. This allows the button to remain thin for minimally invasive access while using a different engagement mechanism (groove and protrusion) that does not require a small diameter tapped hole, thereby eliminating the breakage risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement mechanism parameter is changed from a threaded hole (requiring small diameter) to a groove feature (can be larger and stronger). This parameter change allows the button to maintain thin dimensions for minimally invasive access while having a more robust engagement feature that reduces breakage risk.
Data Source
AI summary
A button inserter apparatus for the insertion of a surgical button includes an inserter handle and an elongated inserter shaft connected at one end to the inserter handle. An inserter head is connected to the inserter shaft at an end opposite to the inserter handle. The inserter head includes opposing engagement projections for engaging and retaining a surgical button there between. One of the engagement projections is longitudinally movable relative to the other of the engagement projections. A button engage and release assembly extends from the inserter handle to the inserter head, and selectively prevents relative longitudinal movement between the engagement projections, and selectively permits relative movement of the engagement projections and thereby release of the surgical button. The engage and release assembly is operable from the inserter handle to cause relative longitudinal movement of the engagement projections and release of the surgical button. A surgical button and a method of inserting a surgical button are also disclosed.