Self-Retaining Surgical Driver Spring Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical implant components, such as bone fasteners and plates, are difficult to handle securely during surgery due to their small size and risk of detachment from insertion tools, potentially leading to internal injuries and procedural complications if dropped.
Innovation Solution
A surgical tool with a resiliently flexible spring extension mechanism at the engagement tip that deflects between a relaxed and deflected state, utilizing stored energy to securely attach and detach from implant components without requiring changes to existing fastener configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional rigid engagement tips are used to handle implant components, then the components can be securely attached, but the components may detach and drop into incisions due to lack of retention mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement tip incorporates a resiliently flexible element that can dynamically deflect between engaged and disengaged states. This dynamic mechanism allows the tip to securely retain the implant component during insertion while providing a controlled release mechanism, eliminating the risk of accidental drops and internal injuries.
Solution Approach 2:
The resiliently flexible element automatically engages with the implant component when inserted and self-retains it through elastic deformation. The mechanism requires no additional fastening steps or external assistance, as the elastic properties of the material provide automatic retention and controlled release capabilities.
2Reliability
If the engagement tip uses a resiliently flexible element to retain implant components, then secure handling is achieved, but the surgical procedure time increases due to engagement and disengagement steps
Solution Approach 1:
The resiliently flexible element is pre-configured in the engagement tip to automatically engage with the implant component upon insertion. This preliminary engagement action eliminates the need for separate securing steps during surgery, reducing procedural time while maintaining secure handling throughout the insertion process.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement and disengagement mechanism is designed to be rapidly actuated, allowing the surgeon to quickly secure and release the implant component without significant time loss. The resilient element's rapid response to applied force enables fast engagement/disengagement cycles that minimize impact on surgical procedure time.
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
Enhances secure attachment and reduced risk of implant components falling off during surgery, ensuring safe handling and efficient procedure execution without the need for customized fasteners, even with non-magnetic materials like titanium.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one spring extension is resiliently flexible and deflectable between a first arrangement, in which it is in a relaxed state, and a second arrangement, in which it is deflected into a condition under a stored energy. The stored energy biases the at least one spring extension toward the first arrangement.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical tool includes a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The surgical tool has a fastener engagement tip having a spring extension extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the surgical tool. The spring extension is resiliently flexible and deflectable between a first arrangement, in which the spring extension is in a relaxed state, and a second arrangement, in which the spring extension is deflected to facilitate insertion of the fastener engagement tip into a fastener slot.