Handheld Surgical Drill With Telescoping Housing For Depth Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drilling apparatuses in surgical settings face issues with stability, accuracy, and depth control, leading to increased drilling times and risks such as anterior breaches, and lack the ability to utilize patient-specific data for customized procedures.

Innovation Solution

A handheld drill apparatus with a dynamic telescoping mechanism and internal motor, capable of pre-programmed depths determined by CAD software or patient-specific CT scans, featuring sensors for depth control and automatic shut-off to prevent over-drilling, and compatibility with patient-specific surgical guides.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional drilling apparatus are used, then drilling operations can be performed, but stability and accuracy deteriorate due to fast moving parts and lack of depth control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling stability and accuracyVSAvoidfast moving parts and vibrating components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drill bit is extracted from the rotating assembly and made as a separate, non-rotating component that extends from the housing. This removes the harmful rotation from the drilling element while maintaining the drilling function, thereby improving stability and accuracy without the complexity of motor-driven rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of rotating the drill bit to perform drilling, the invention inverts the approach by using a non-rotating drill bit that is advanced through mechanical telescoping of the housing sections. This inversion eliminates vibration and moving part complexity while maintaining drilling capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Manufacturing precision

If no depth control mechanism is implemented, then the drilling apparatus is simpler, but manufacturing precision and depth accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling depth control and accuracyVSAvoiddepth control mechanisms

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The desired drilling depth is predetermined by the surgeon through selection of a surgical guide with pre-marked depth indicators or pre-programmed depth settings. This preliminary determination of depth allows precise drilling without complex real-time control mechanisms, as the depth is established before the procedure begins.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Surgical guides act as intermediaries between the drilling apparatus and the bone. These guides contain depth indicators and physical stops that mediate the drilling process, providing precise depth control without requiring complex integrated control systems in the drill itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If handheld drilling apparatus are used, then ease of operation improves, but stability and accuracy worsen due to lack of secure positioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandheld operation convenienceVSAvoiddrilling stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The drill housing is segmented into multiple telescoping sections that can extend and retract. This segmentation allows the drill to maintain a compact handheld size for ease of operation while enabling extension of the drill bit to the required depth, thereby maintaining stability without compromising portability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The drill housing incorporates dynamic telescoping sections that can change length during operation. This dynamic adjustment allows the drill to adapt between a compact handheld configuration for ease of operation and an extended configuration for stable drilling at depth, resolving the contradiction between portability and stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If traditional drilling methods are used, then drilling operations can be performed, but productivity deteriorates due to increased drilling times

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling speed and efficiencyVSAvoiddrilling time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The drill bit maintains continuous contact with the bone throughout the drilling process without interruption from rotation, retraction, or adjustment. This continuous drilling action eliminates idle time between operational phases and maintains constant productive engagement, thereby reducing total drilling time and improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS10743890B2Drill apparatus and surgical fixation devices and methods for using the same

Publication Date: 2020.08.18 MIGHTY OAK MEDICAL INC

AI summary

The present application relates to systems, methods, and devices for performing drilling operations, such as in a surgical setting. The embodiments disclosed herein include handheld drill apparatus configured to be used with guides for completing a specific operation. The drill apparatus is capable of receiving instructions either through programming, from a memory device, or from scanning a device located on an external item, such as a guide.