Handheld Surgical Instrument With Integrated Tracking And Movable Cutting Accessory

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tracking systems for hand-held surgical instruments face challenges in accurately positioning cutting jigs during joint replacement surgeries, leading to increased procedural time and potential less-than-ideal surgical outcomes.

Innovation Solution

A hand-held surgical instrument with a movable working portion, actuated by multiple degrees of freedom, and equipped with a tracking device and drive mechanism, allowing for precise control and positioning relative to a virtual boundary during medical procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If cutting jigs are used to position the cutting accessory, then positioning accuracy is improved, but procedural time increases and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidprocedural time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the cutting jig from the surgical procedure entirely. Instead of using a separate positioning device (cutting jig), the system integrates tracking technology directly onto the hand-held instrument, allowing the cutting accessory to be positioned and controlled without requiring attachment to or removal of external jigs, thereby reducing procedural time while maintaining positioning accuracy through real-time tracking feedback

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical cutting jig system with an electronic tracking and control system. Optical markers and tracking cameras substitute for mechanical positioning mechanisms, allowing the cutting accessory position to be monitored and controlled through electronic feedback rather than physical mechanical constraints, eliminating the need for cutting jigs while preserving positioning precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If cutting jigs are used to position the cutting accessory, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the tracking functionality directly into the hand-held instrument by integrating optical markers onto the instrument body and incorporating tracking sensors. This merging eliminates the need for separate cutting jigs and external positioning devices, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining positioning accuracy through the integrated tracking system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The hand-held instrument is designed to perform multiple functions: cutting, tracking, and positioning control all in one device. The instrument incorporates optical markers for tracking, sensors for position detection, and control mechanisms for accessory manipulation, making it a universal tool that replaces multiple separate devices including cutting jigs, thereby reducing device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If tracking systems are used without cutting jigs, then procedural time is reduced and device complexity is reduced, but positioning precision may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocedural efficiencyVSAvoidpositioning precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a real-time feedback system where optical markers on the hand-held instrument are continuously tracked by cameras, and position data is fed back to the control system. This feedback loop allows the system to monitor the cutting accessory position continuously and make real-time adjustments, ensuring positioning precision is maintained even without cutting jigs, while enabling faster procedural execution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from static mechanical positioning (cutting jigs) to dynamic electronic positioning control. The tracking system continuously updates the position of the cutting accessory in real-time, allowing dynamic adjustment and control of the cutting path, which maintains positioning precision while enabling more flexible and efficient surgical procedures without the constraints of fixed mechanical jigs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250160958A1Surgical Instrument Including Housing, A Cutting Accessory That Extends From The Housing And Actuators That Establish The Position Of The Cutting Accessory Relative To The Housing

Publication Date: 2025.05.22 STRYKER CORP

AI summary

An instrument for use with a navigation system to treat tissue during a medical procedure, the instrument including a hand-held portion, a rotating cutting accessory, a plurality of actuators, a tracking device and a sleeve. The hand-held portion having a pistol grip shape and configured to be manually supported and moved by a user. The rotating cutting accessory movably coupled to the hand-held portion, and the plurality of actuators operatively are coupled to the rotating cutting accessory for moving the rotating cutting accessory in two degrees of freedom relative to the hand-held portion. The tracking device is built-in and configured for tracking a position and orientation of the instrument. The sleeve at least partially covers the rotating cutting accessory and moves with the rotating cutting accessory in the two degrees of freedom. The rotating cutting accessory is configured to rotate within the sleeve during the medical procedure.