Surgical Drill Guide with Tactile Feedback Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical drill/depth guides are cumbersome and inefficient, particularly in minimally invasive procedures, as they lack reliable mechanisms for confirming the desired drilling depth, especially in hard bone, due to low visibility and complex depth-gauge markings.

Innovation Solution

A surgical instrument with a drill guide and drill bit that provides tactile and auditory feedback through a mating mechanism with a flange and rumble strip, ensuring accurate depth control and preventing over-drilling, utilizing a polymeric shaft for single-use disposable components to minimize damage and facilitate easy replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If visual depth-gauge markings and hard stops are used, then drilling depth indication is provided, but reliability of depth confirmation is insufficient especially in MIS procedures with low visibility and hard bone drilling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedepth confirmation reliabilityVSAvoiddepth indication mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces tactile feedback through a rumble strip mechanism that provides vibration when the drill bit reaches the predetermined depth. This feedback mechanism enhances reliability by giving the surgeon direct physical confirmation of depth achievement, especially valuable in MIS procedures where visual confirmation is difficult. The rumble strip converts the positional state of the drill bit into tactile sensory information that the surgeon can perceive regardless of visual conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces reliance on visual mechanical indicators (depth-gauge markings) with a tactile vibration-based indication system. The rumble strip mechanism substitutes the need for clear visual markings by providing auditory and tactile signals that work independently of visibility conditions, effectively replacing the visual confirmation mechanism with a multi-sensory alternative.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multi-stage mechanisms are used for altering drilling depth, then depth adjustment capability is provided, but ease of operation deteriorates due to cumbersome mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling depth adjustment capabilityVSAvoiddepth adjustment operation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a dynamic depth adjustment mechanism where the guide body can be selectively positioned at different depths along the drill shaft. This allows the surgeon to adjust the drilling depth by simply moving the guide body to the desired position and locking it, rather than navigating through multiple stages. The dynamic positioning system provides adaptability for different depth requirements while maintaining ease of operation through straightforward movement and locking actions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If hard stops are used for preventing further drilling, then over-drilling prevention is provided, but ease of operation worsens due to inefficiency in confirming depth achievement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveover-drilling preventionVSAvoiddepth achievement confirmation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rumble strip mechanism provides immediate tactile feedback when the drill bit contacts the hard stop at the predetermined depth. This feedback allows the surgeon to efficiently confirm depth achievement without ambiguity, combining the over-drilling prevention function of the hard stop with efficient confirmation through vibration signals that are immediately perceptible to the surgeon.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

The solution enhances the surgeon's ability to accurately determine the maximum drilling depth with tactile and auditory signals, reducing the risk of over-drilling and allowing for precise control, especially in challenging bone conditions, while ensuring that disposable components are easily replaced during procedures.

Implementation Method 1

a first surface of the surgical instrument, a second surface of the surgical instrument upon rotation of the first surface relative to the second surface in the mating orientation, a tactile and/or auditory signal is provided

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP3257453B1Surgical instruments with tactile or auditory feedback

Publication Date: 2022.07.27 STRYKER EUROPEAN OPERATIONS HOLDINGS LLC

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AI summary

Various surgical instruments and their methods of use are disclosed. The surgical instruments are designed to provide tactile, auditory, and/or visual confirmation to the surgeon that the surgical instrument is being used appropriately and/or fully in accordance with a surgical procedure. The instrument can be a drill guide (10) with a drill bit (50) having mating surfaces (36, 60) where recesses on one surface and indentations on the other surface produce tactile and auditory feedback upon relative rotation of the surfaces. Visual feedback (38) of the drill bit penetration depth can also be provided.