Twist-Drivable Pin Assembly With Visual Driver Differentiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need to differentiate between drivers used for twist-drivable pin assemblies to ensure appropriate selection for specific pins, as existing systems lack clear visual identification methods, leading to potential misuse or damage, especially in applications like orthopedic surgery where timely identification of suitable drivers is critical.
Innovation Solution
The twist-drivable pin assembly features drivers with cross-sectional shapes defined by a plurality of apexes, where grooves on the faces between adjacent apexes differentiate the drivers, and corresponding markings on the pins provide visual cues for identifying the correct driver, allowing for easy recognition and selection, even in challenging environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If drivers have simple polygonal cross-sections without additional features, then manufacturing is simple and cost-effective, but drivers cannot be visually differentiated for proper selection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by adding grooves to specific faces of selected drivers while leaving other drivers without grooves. This creates local differentiation (grooved vs. non-grooved faces) that provides visual identification information without fundamentally changing the basic polygonal structure or manufacturing process of all drivers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses groove presence/absence as a visual indicator analogous to color coding. The grooves create a distinguishable visual feature on the driver's cross-section that allows rapid identification and differentiation between drivers intended for different pin types, similar to how color codes differentiate tools.
2Device complexity
If no visual identification system is provided, then the device structure remains simple, but driver selection errors may occur leading to pin damage or misuse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses markings on the pin that replicate or correspond to the groove pattern on the appropriate driver. This visual copying allows the user to match the driver to the pin by comparing their cross-sectional features, ensuring correct pairing without complex identification systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove features are pre-formed on the drivers during manufacturing, and corresponding markings are pre-applied to the pins. This preliminary visual coding allows for rapid identification and correct selection before the actual driving operation, preventing mismatches and ensuring reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If drivers are differentiated by size only, then selection is possible, but drivers with same size but different torque settings cannot be distinguished
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetry in the driver cross-section by adding grooves to specific faces. This creates an asymmetric visual pattern that differentiates drivers even when they have the same overall size and basic polygonal shape, allowing rapid identification of the correct driver for specific torque settings or pin types.
Data Source
AI summary
A twist-drivable pin assembly includes first and second drivers, each having a driving end which can be received in a bore in the end of a twist-drivable pin, and an opposite end at which torque can be applied. The cross-sectional shape of each of the drivers at its driving end has a first plurality of apexes whose relative locations coincide with the apexes of a regular polygon such as a hexagon. The drivers differ from one another in their cross-sectional shapes at the driving end by virtue of one or more faces of at least one of the drivers between adjacent pairs of apexes having a groove formed in it. Each of first and second twist-drivable pins has a bore extending into it which is defined by a second plurality of apexes arranged as a regular polygon such as a hexagon and which is open at one end.