Surgical saw with sensing technology for determining cut through of bone and depth of the saw blade during surgery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9833244-B2
Application number	US-201414537586-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 10, 2014
Priority date	Nov 8, 2013
Publication date	Dec 5, 2017
Grant date	Dec 5, 2017

Abstract

Sensing technology methods related thereto for determining cut through of bone and a depth of penetration of a working portion of a surgical instrument (e.g., an oscillating saw blade in a cut). A first sensor outputs a first signal representative of a displacement of the cutting edge of the saw blade in the cut. A second sensor outputs a second signal representative of a force applied to the cutting edge of the saw blade. As such, monitoring the first and/or second sensor may allow for the saw to be stopped upon completion of a cut (e.g., when the saw passes completely through a medium to be cut or upon reaching a predetermined depth for the cut).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A saw blade assembly for use with a saw having a displacement sensor for outputting a signal representative of a displacement of a cutting edge of the saw blade assembly with respect to a reference point, comprising:
a saw blade having a cutting edge disposed at a distal end of the saw blade and a shank disposed adjacent to a proximal end of the saw blade, the saw blade having a blade member extending between the distal end and the shank, wherein the shank is adapted for engagement with a chuck of a saw, and wherein the blade member extends along a length of the saw blade between the shank and the cutting edge; and
a bushing configured to be located adjacent to at least a portion of the blade member, wherein the bushing is constrainedly moveable relative to the blade member in a direction corresponding to the length of the blade member, and wherein the bushing comprises a destructible portion that is at least partially destructible during a cleaning process.

2. The saw blade assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the bushing comprises at least one reference surface.

3. The saw blade assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the bushing is comprises a cutting guide that is stationary relative to the medium to be cut, wherein the at least one reference surface comprises a portion of the cutting guide, the portion of the cutting guide being alignable with the cutting edge of the saw blade to define the reference point.

4. The saw blade assembly according to claim 2 , further comprising: an engagement member disposed on the bushing for engagement with a displacement sensing arm of a displacement sensor, wherein the engagement member is engageable with the displacement sensing arm for corresponding movement between the bushing and the displacement sensing arm.

5. The saw blade assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the bushing is disposable adjacent the distal end of the blade, wherein the at least one reference surface is alignable with the cutting edge of the saw blade to define the reference point.

6. The saw blade assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the blade member comprises opposing planar surfaces, and wherein the bushing comprises a bearing surface in contact at least with at least one of the opposing planar surfaces.

7. The saw blade assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the saw blade is advanceable into a cut, wherein the cutting edge of the saw blade is displaced relative to the reference surface upon the advancement of the saw blade into the cut.

8. The saw blade assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the reference surface contacts at least a first side of the cut upon advancement of the saw blade relative thereto.

9. The saw blade assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the bushing is maintainably engagable against at least the first side of the cut so as to maintain the reference point stationary against the first side of the cut in a direction corresponding to the length of the blade member.

10. The saw blade assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the engagement member comprises a post extending from the bushing that is selectively engageable with the displacement sensing arm of the displacement sensor.

11. The saw blade according to claim 1 , wherein the destructible portion is meltable.

12. The saw blade according to claim 11 , wherein a melting temperature of the destructible portion is greater than an operating temperature of the saw blade and less than an autoclave temperature.

13. The saw blade according to claim 12 , wherein the melting temperature of the destructible portion is not less than about 60° C. and not greater than about 110° C.

14. The saw blade according to claim 1 , wherein the destructible portion comprises a proximal end portion of the shank.

15. The saw blade according to claim 14 , wherein the destructible portion comprises at least a portion of an engagement feature for engagement of the shank by a chuck.

16. The saw blade according to claim 14 , wherein the destructible portion, after having been exposed to a cleaning process, is not registerable with respect to the chuck.

17. The saw blade according to claim 15 , wherein the surface area of the engagement feature of the shank in contact with the chuck is at least reduced upon exposure of the destructible portion to a cleaning process.

18. The saw blade according to claim 1 , wherein the destructible portion comprises at least a portion of the bushing.

19. The saw blade according to claim 18 , wherein the destructible portion comprises an engagement portion of the bushing for engagement with a displacement sensing arm.

20. A method for use of a saw blade assembly with a saw having displacement sensor for outputting a signal representative of a displacement of a cutting edge of the saw blade assembly with respect to a reference point, the method comprising:
engaging a displacement sensing arm of the displacement sensor with an engagement member of a bushing, wherein the bushing is constrainedly moveable relative to a saw blade along a length of the saw blade between a shank and the cutting edge, and wherein the engaging results in corresponding movement of the bushing and the displacement sensing arm;
aligning a shank of the saw blade with a chuck member of the saw; and
securing the shank of the saw blade with the chuck of the saw to restrict movement between the saw blade and the chuck.

21. The method according to claim 20 , further comprising:
positioning a distal portion of the bushing adjacent to the cutting edge of the saw blade at a distal portion thereof.

22. The method according to claim 21 , further comprising:
contacting the cutting edge of the saw blade to a surface of a medium to be sawed, wherein the distal portion of the bushing contacts the surface of the medium to be sawed.

23. The method according to claim 22 , further comprising:
establishing the reference point when the cutting edge of the saw blade and the distal portion of the bushing is in contact with the surface of the medium to be sawed.

24. The method according to claim 23 , further comprising:
advancing the saw blade into the medium to be sawed, wherein the cutting edge advances in relation to the distal portion of the bushing in contact with the surface of the medium to be sawed.

25. The method according to claim 23 , further comprising:
producing relative movement of the displacement sensing arm relative to the displacement sensor upon the advancing.

26. The method according to claim 25 , further comprising:
outputting a signal from the displacement sensor indicative of the amount of displacement of the cutting edge of the saw blade relative to the distal portion of the bushing.

Assignees

• Mcginley Eng Solutions Llc

Inventors

• Mcginley Joseph C
• Fisher Lawson
• Mishra Devjeet
• Mccrea Jim
• Bliven Brian
• Leugers Martin

Classifications

• A61B2090/0812

  indicating loosening or shifting of parts of an instrument, signaling maladjustment of parts · CPC title

• A61B17/320068

  using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic (A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745) · CPC title

• A61B2090/061

  for measuring dimensions, e.g. length · CPC title

• A61B2090/0814

  Preventing re-use · CPC title

• B08B3/04

  Cleaning involving contact with liquid · CPC title