Torque limiting instrument, system and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9693814-B2
Application number	US-201313826718-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2013
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

An instrument for limiting torque can include a method for limiting torque that is transferred from a handle of the instrument through a torque transfer member to a shaft that extends relative to the handle. The method can include applying a torque to the handle along a direction relative to the shaft. The method can include transmitting the applied torque from the handle through the torque transfer member to the shaft when the applied torque is less than a limited torque value. When the applied torque is greater than the limited torque value, at least one of the torque transfer member and the handle deforms so as to allow the handle to rotate along the direction relative to both the torque transfer member and the shaft.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method for limiting torque that is transferred from a handle end of a driving instrument through a torque transfer member to a shaft that extends from the handle along an instrument axis, at least a portion of the torque transfer member received in a cavity of the handle, the cavity extending inwardly in a radial direction from a wall of the handle toward the instrument axis, the radial direction being perpendicular to the instrument axis, the method comprising the steps of:
applying a torque to the handle along a direction relative to the shaft;
transmitting the applied torque from the handle through the torque transfer member to the shaft when the applied torque is less than a limited torque value; and
deforming at least a portion of the wall in the radial direction with the torque transfer member when the applied torque is greater than the limited torque value so as to allow the handle to rotate along the rotation direction relative to both the torque transfer member and the shaft when the applied torque is greater than the limited torque value.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the steps of transmitting and deforming occurs while maintaining the handle and the torque transfer member stationary on the instrument axis between an instrument proximal end and an opposing instrument distal end.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the torque transfer member comprises a base and a protrusion that extends from the base, the protrusion coupled to a complementary structure of the handle.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of deforming further comprises: deforming the handle from a first configuration into a second configuration, whereby the first configuration is defined as when the handle is not permitted to rotate relative to the torque transfer member and the shaft, and the second configuration is defined as when the applied torque is greater than the limited torque value and the handle is deformed so as to allow the handle to rotate along the direction relative to both the torque transfer member and the shaft.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a body and a protrusion that extends from the body, the protrusion of the body coupled to a complementary structure of the torque transfer member.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the driving instrument defines a proximal end and an engaging end spaced apart from the proximal end along the instrument axis, the handle or the torque transfer member define at least one groove that extends at least partially along the instrument axis, and the other of the handle and the torque transfer member defines a body and at least one protrusion that extends from the body, and wherein the at least one protrusion is coupled with the at least one groove, wherein the step of deforming further comprises: decoupling the at least one protrusion from the at least one groove.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one protrusion is at least one flexible tab that extends from the base to engaging a corresponding at least one groove, wherein the step of deforming further comprises: deforming the at least one flexible tab out of engagement with the at least one groove.

8. A method of producing a torque limiting driving instrument, the driving instrument configured to drive a fastener into a fastening location, the driving instrument defining a proximal end and a fastener engaging end spaced apart from the proximal end along an instrument axis, the method comprising:
attaching a shaft to a torque transfer member such that the shaft extends from the torque transfer member along a central axis; and
attaching the torque transfer member to a handle, such that at least one of the torque transfer member or the handle defines at least one protrusion that is configured to abut the other of the torque transfer member or the handle,
wherein a peripheral wall of the handle is configured to deform in a radial direction that is perpendicular to the central axis in response to a torque applied to the handle greater than a limited torque value, thereby allowing the handle to rotate with respect to the shaft, wherein the peripheral wall extends from an outer surface of the handle to an inner surface of the handle in the radial direction.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the handle defines an inner cavity configured to receive the torque limiting member, and the step of attaching the torque transfer member to the handle further comprises: inserting the torque transfer member into the inner cavity.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the torque transfer member defines a cavity configured to receive the handle member, and the step of attaching the torque transfer member to the handle further comprises: inserting the handle into the torque transfer member cavity.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the torque transfer member defines a base and at least one flexible tab that extends from the base, and the handle defines at least one groove, wherein the step of attaching the torque transfer member to the handle further comprises: positioning the torque transfer member such that the at least one flexible tab is received at least partially by the at least one groove of the handle.

12. A torque limiting driving instrument for driving an anchor into a surgical site, the driving instrument defining a proximal end, and a distal end spaced apart from the proximal end along an instrument axis, the driving instrument comprising:
a handle having a wall and defining a cavity extending inwardly from the wall toward the instrument axis in a radial direction that is perpendicular to the instrument axis;
a torque transfer member coupled to the handle at least partially within the cavity, the torque transfer member having at least one protrusion that extends from the torque transfer member, wherein the torque transfer member is coupled to the handle such that the at least one protrusion abuts a complementary structure of the handle; and
a shaft that extends from the torque transfer member along the instrument axis to an anchor engaging end, wherein the shaft is rotationally fixed to the torque transfer member,
wherein the wall of the handle is deformable in the radial direction such that the handle is selectively rotatable relative to the torque transfer member, and wherein the driving instrument is configured to rotate the anchor along a rotation direction until a torque applied to the handle is greater than a limited torque value.

13. The driving instrument of claim 12 wherein the handle and the torque transfer member are stationary relative to the proximal and distal ends of the driving instrument when a torque applied to the handle is less than the limited torque value.

14. The driving instrument of claim 12 , wherein the complementary structure of the handle is at least one groove formed in the wall, the at least one groove extending at least partially along the instrument axis.

15. The driving instrument of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the handle and the torque transfer member is polymeric.

16. The driving instrument of claim 12 , wherein the driving instrument is configured to iterate between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the first configuration is defined as when the handle is not rotatable relative to the torque transfer member and the shaft, and wherein the second configuration is defined as when the applied torque is greater than the limited torque value so that the handle is rotatable relative the torque transfer member and the shaft.

17. The driving instrument of claim 12 , wherein the wall is config

Assignees

• Depuy Synthes Products Inc

Inventors

• Schaller Konrad
• Voisard Cyril

Classifications

• A61B2090/031

  torque limiting · CPC title

• A61B17/8875 Primary

  Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• B25G3/02

  Socket, tang, or like fixings (B25G3/34 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B25B23/1427

  by mechanical means · CPC title