Reusable Surgical Driver with Disposable Cement Tips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fenestrated screw instrumentation solutions for spinal augmentation are inadequate due to insufficient bone cement volume, inefficiency in cement delivery, and the need for multiple plungers, leading to waste and increased costs, as well as the disposal of reusable drivers due to hardened cement and potential infection risks.
Innovation Solution
A surgical system with a reusable sleeve and disposable tips that optimize bone cement delivery, allowing for precise volume matching spinal augmentation needs, minimizing waste, and ensuring aseptic conditions by preventing cement contact with internal components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional bone filler devices are used to deliver bone cement, then the cement can be delivered to bond bone fasteners with bone, but the volume of cement dispensed does not match spinal augmentation guidance and multiple devices are required
Solution Approach 1:
The bone filler device is segmented into a reusable driver component and disposable tips with different cement volumes. Each tip is designed to deliver a specific volume of cement (e.g., 1.5mL, 3mL, 5mL) to match spinal augmentation guidance, eliminating the need to use multiple complete devices and reducing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The reusable driver is designed with universal compatibility to accept multiple disposable tip sizes. This multi-functionality allows a single driver to deliver various cement volumes by simply changing tips, resolving the contradiction between delivering precise volumes and maintaining device simplicity.
2Reliability
If conventional heavy monolithic drivers are used, then bone cement can be delivered, but the drivers must be discarded after single use due to hardened cement and infection risks
Solution Approach 1:
The driver system is segmented into reusable and disposable components. Only the disposable tip that contacts hardened cement is discarded, while the main driver body can be sterilized and reused. This segmentation maintains aseptic conditions by replacing the contaminated portion while preserving the expensive driver infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
Disposable tips are designed as low-cost, single-use components that are discarded after one use to eliminate infection risks from hardened cement. This approach maintains high reliability for aseptic conditions without requiring disposal of the entire expensive driver assembly.
3Quantity of substance
If conventional bone filler devices are used, then cement delivery can be performed, but more than one device is required leading to waste and increased costs
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments cement delivery into standardized disposable tip volumes that match clinical guidance requirements. This allows precise delivery of the exact amount needed (e.g., 1.5mL, 3mL, or 5mL per screw) without over-delivery or the need to switch devices, reducing cement waste and associated costs.
4Measurement precision
If precise bone cement volume delivery is required to match spinal augmentation guidance, then cement volume can be optimized, but conventional devices cannot deliver the required volume in a single application
Solution Approach 1:
Disposable tips are manufactured with precise internal volumes (1.5mL, 3mL, 5mL) that exactly match spinal augmentation guidance requirements. This segmentation by volume allows surgeons to select the precise amount needed for each application, achieving measurement precision while maintaining productivity by delivering the complete required volume in a single tip application.
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 surgical system efficiently delivers the required amount of bone cement with reduced waste and costs, while maintaining aseptic practices by isolating cement from internal components, enhancing surgical efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
A plunger is movably disposed in the lumen and configured to move a material through the lumen and the channel and into the cannula
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical system includes a sleeve defining a passageway. An adapter is removably coupled to the sleeve. The adapter defines a channel. A delivery device includes a distal end positioned in a channel of the adapter. A bone fastener includes a head and a shank defining a cannula. A distal portion of the adapter is positioned in the shank such that the channel is in communication with a cannula of the shank. A plunger is movably disposed in a lumen of the delivery device. The plunger is configured to move a material through the lumen and the channel and into the cannula. Methods and kits are disclosed.