Surgical Guide Wire Tool with Adjustable Stop for Spinal Depth Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical procedures for spinal surgeries face challenges in achieving precise control over the insertion and retraction of guide wires through bone, particularly due to the difference in hardness between cortical and cancellous bone, which can lead to neural damage or blood vessel injury.

Innovation Solution

A surgical tool with a cannulated hand grip and slide assembly that includes a user-adjustable stop and screw jack, allowing for precise control of guide wire insertion and retraction, compatible with various surgical driving tools and pedicle screws, enabling precise trajectory and depth control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If a hammer or similar instrument is used to force the instrument through the cortical bone, then the force required to penetrate the cortical bone is overcome, but there is a greater danger of the instrument passing rapidly through the cancellous bone and out the other side of the vertebra

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforce to penetrate cortical boneVSAvoidcontrol over guide wire penetration depth

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a guide wire as an intermediary element that can be precisely controlled during insertion. The guide wire serves as a mediator between the surgeon's control and the bone penetration process, allowing force application while maintaining depth control through the wire's guided path and engagement with the cancellous bone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the direct mechanical hammering action with a controlled guide wire insertion mechanism. Instead of applying uncontrolled force through a hammer, the system uses a guide wire that can be advanced with precise control, substituting the crude mechanical impact system with a more controllable insertion system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If precision depth guided instruments are used to perform percutaneous spinal surgery, then neural damage and blood vessel injury are avoided, but a large force is normally required by the surgeon to penetrate the cortical bone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveavoidance of neural damage and blood vessel injuryVSAvoidforce required to penetrate cortical bone

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the bone penetration function into two distinct phases: cortical bone penetration and cancellous bone traversal. The guide wire is designed with specific features for each phase, allowing the surgeon to apply force for cortical penetration while the wire's geometry and engagement features provide controlled progression through the cancellous bone, reducing the need for continuous high force application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide wire acts as an intermediary that decouples the force application from the depth control. The surgeon applies force to advance the wire, but the wire's interaction with the bone structure and its engagement with the cancellous bone provides automatic depth regulation, eliminating the need for the surgeon to continuously modulate high forces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the guide wire is allowed to penetrate freely through the bone, then insertion is simplified, but there is a danger of rapidly passing through the cancellous bone and then through the cortical bone on the other side of the vertebra

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of guide wire insertionVSAvoidrisk of passing through cortical bone on other side

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates preliminary control features into the guide wire design, such as engagement features and geometric constraints that are built in before insertion. These features are designed to automatically engage with the cancellous bone structure, providing pre-programmed depth control that prevents the wire from penetrating too deeply without requiring active intervention during the procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The guide wire serves as a controlled intermediary that mediates between the simple insertion action and the complex requirement for depth control. The wire's design allows it to be easily inserted while simultaneously providing mechanical constraints and engagement features that prevent over-penetration, thus mediating between ease of operation and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12016606B2Surgical guidance device and system for insertion thereof

Publication Date: 2024.06.25 INTEGRITY IMPLANTS INC

AI summary

Briefly, the invention relates to a surgical tool and method for forming a pilot bore by inserting a guide wire into bone. More particularly, the device includes a cannulated hand grip and driving tool used for the rotation of a pedicle screw into bone. The rear portion of the hand grip includes a slide assembly that is suited to grip a guide wire. The slide assembly includes a user adjustable stop to control the sliding movement of the guide wire. The rear surface of the slide assembly is constructed to be impacted with a hammer or similar device, whereby the stop prevents the guide wire from penetrating the bone further than desired. Should it be desired that the guide wire be retracted, a screw jack is included to allow the guide wire to be precisely retracted.