Smart surgical screw driver

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020038084-A1
Application number	US-201716339400-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 5, 2017
Priority date	Oct 5, 2016
Publication date	Feb 6, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed herein are surgical tool systems and methods of using such to install a fixator in a biological tissue. The systems are capable of accurately measuring torque and rotational velocity and providing real time feedback to a user during surgery.

First claim

1 . A surgical tool system comprising:
a) a surgical tool configured to install a fixator in a biological tissue; b) a first sensor, a second sensor, and a third sensor in communication with the surgical tool,
wherein the first sensor is configured to obtain torque measurements, the second sensor is configured to obtain one or more rotational acceleration measurements, and the third sensor is configured to obtain time measurements;
c) a microcontroller configured to
i) receive measurements from the first and second, third sensors and calculate at least one torque parameter, and at least one energy-rotation parameter,
ii) generate one or more optimal ranges for the at least one torque parameter and at least one energy parameter, and
d) a feedback mechanism configured to communicate a signal reflecting whether one or more torque parameter, one or more energy-rotation parameter, are within or outside the one or more optimal ranges in real time.

2 . The surgical tool system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a power source.

3 . The surgical tool system of claim 1 , wherein the second sensor comprises an accelerometer or a gyroscope.

4 . The surgical tool system of claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller further comprises a means to adjust the tool such that the at least one torque parameter and at least one energy parameter are maintained substantially within the one or more optimal ranges.

5 . The surgical tool system of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third sensors are configured to obtain measurements at a frequency of at least 5, at least 20, at least 40, or at least 60 Hz.

6 . The surgical tool system of claim 1 , wherein one or more optimal ranges are generated based in part on one or more factors selected from age, gender, height, weight, body mass index, race, and bone mineral density.

7 . The surgical tool system of claim 1 , wherein the feedback mechanism is a visual feedback mechanism.

8 . The surgical tool system of claim 1 , wherein the feedback mechanism is a tactile feedback mechanism.

9 . The surgical tool system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more torque parameters are selected from peak torque and mean torque.

10 . The surgical tool system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more energy-rotation parameters comprise total insertional energy and energy density.

11 . The surgical tool system of claim 1 , wherein the external fixator is a pedicle screw.

12 . The surgical tool system of claim 1 , wherein the external fixator is a cortical screw.

13 . The surgical tool system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a Bluetooth module for data transmission and storage.

14 . A method for installing a fixator in a biological tissue, the method comprising:
a) loading an external fixator to a surgical tool system according to claim 1 , b) operating the surgical tool system to start installing the fixator in the biological tissue, c) measuring one or more torque measurements, one or more rotational acceleration measurements, and one or more time measurements, d) calculating one or more torque parameters, one or more energy-rotation parameters, e) communicating to a user a signal reflecting whether the values of the one or more torque parameter and the one or more energy parameter fall outside one or more optimal ranges, and f) adjusting the operation of the tool such that values of the one or more torque parameters and one or more energy-rotation parameters are within the one or more optimal ranges, if the values are outside the optimal ranges, and g) repeating step c)-f) until the installation is complete.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the method comprises, before the step (a),
i) tapping with the surgical tool in the location of the biological tissue where a fixator is to be installed, ii) measuring one or more torque measurements and one or more rotational velocity measurements during the tapping, iii) calculating at least one torque parameter and at least one energy-rotation parameter during the tapping, and iv) adjusting tap size if values of the one or more torque measurements and/or one or more energy-rotation parameter calculated insertional energy fall outside optimal ranges, or continuing with tapping and installing the fixator if the one or more torque measurements and one or more energy parameter calculated insertional energy fall within optimal ranges.

16 . The method of claim 14 wherein the measurements are performed at a frequency of at least 10, at least 12, at least 15, at least 20, or at least 30 times per second.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the signal is a visual signal.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the signal is a tactile signal.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the fixator is a pedicle screw or a cortical screw.

20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises transmitting data from the tool via a Bluetooth module.

Assignees

• Univ Wake Forest Health Sciences

Inventors

• Brown Philip J
• Rich Andrea Morgan
• Van Gorkom Aaron Ross

Classifications

• A61B2090/066

  for measuring torque · CPC title

• A61B17/1626

  Control means; Display units · CPC title

• A61B17/8875 Primary

  Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches · CPC title

• A61B2560/0475

  Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards · CPC title

• A61B2560/0462

  Apparatus with built-in sensors · CPC title