Surgical Tool Adaptor K-Wire Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current minimally invasive spinal surgery techniques face challenges in accurately inserting and locking rods with pedicle screws due to difficulties in guiding K-wires and tools, leading to potential tissue injury and incorrect screw orientation, especially when encountering sensitive tissues.
Innovation Solution
A surgical tool adaptor with a distal interface and a proximal holder allows for precise control of a K-wire, enabling it to protrude a controlled amount beyond the surgical tool, with a locking mechanism and force sensor to ensure accurate bone penetration and reduce the risk of slipping, along with adjustable features for different surgical tools and lengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a K-wire is used to guide pedicle screw insertion percutaneously, then minimally invasive surgery is achieved with reduced blood loss and shorter recovery time, but the K-wire may slip forward into sensitive tissues when force is applied during insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guide wire as an intermediary element between the K-wire and the pedicle screw. The guide wire is inserted first through the percutaneous approach to establish a safe trajectory, then the K-wire is advanced over the guide wire to the bone surface. This intermediary guide wire prevents the K-wire from slipping forward into sensitive tissues while maintaining the minimally invasive approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary action by inserting the guide wire before the K-wire and establishing the correct trajectory in advance. The guide wire is positioned first to define the safe path, then the K-wire follows this pre-established path. This preliminary positioning prevents K-wire slippage during forceful advancement.
2Manufacturing precision
If the K-wire is advanced forcefully to penetrate cortical bone, then bone penetration is achieved, but the K-wire may move forward excessively and contact sensitive tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The guide wire serves as a mediator that allows controlled force application. When force is needed to penetrate cortical bone, the force is applied to advance the K-wire over the guide wire rather than directly manipulating the K-wire alone. This intermediary structure provides mechanical stability and prevents excessive forward movement into sensitive tissues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the surgeon can sense the resistance and position of the K-wire relative to the guide wire and bone surface. The guide wire provides tactile feedback about the correct trajectory and depth, allowing the surgeon to apply force judiciously and stop before excessive advancement occurs.
3Ease of manufacture
If percutaneous cannulated drills and screw taps are inserted over the guidance element, then the tract is prepared for screw insertion, but the path around the guidance element must be dilated and held open requiring additional devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into the guide wire and tower structure. The guide wire not only guides the initial K-wire insertion but also serves as the central axis over which all subsequent instruments (cannulated drills, screw taps, screws) are advanced. The tower structure combines the functions of holding the guide wire, receiving the screw, and providing percutaneous access, eliminating the need for separate dilating tubes and retractor systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide wire and tower assembly serve multiple functions: guiding K-wire insertion, serving as a trajectory guide for cannulated drills and taps, providing structural support for percutaneous access, and acting as a reference for screw placement. This multi-functional design reduces the number of separate devices needed compared to traditional approaches requiring separate dilators and retractors.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical tool adaptor includes a distal interface member and a proximal holder. The surgical tool adaptor is formed with a lumen through the distal interface member and the proximal holder for passing a guiding element (e.g., K-wire) distally through the distal interface member. The proximal holder includes a locking element for locking the guiding element in the lumen and the distal interface member includes a connecting element for connecting to a surgical tool. The proximal holder is movable relative to the distal interface member so that the proximal holder is movable to a position wherein the guiding element does not protrude proximally out of the proximal holder.