Surgical screwdriver
Inventors
Pagani, Luca • Riva, Marco • Fiechter, Meinrad • Siccardi, Francesco
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12082862-B2
Publication Date
2024-09-10
Expiration Date
Abstract
Various implementations include a surgical screwdriver that comprises a first rotating shaft configured to be rotated about a respective longitudinal axis, a second rotating shaft extending along a respective development axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first shaft and having a shaped end tip which can be inserted into the head of a screw, and a transmission member interposed between respective first ends of the shafts to transfer the rotation from the first shaft to the second shaft. The transmission member comprises a homokinetic spherical joint.
Core Innovation
The invention is a surgical screwdriver that transfers rotation from a first rotating shaft to a second rotating shaft through a homokinetic spherical joint. The shafts extend along transverse, noncoaxial axes, and a hollow cylindrical sleeve accommodates at least part of the shafts and joint. The first rotating shaft comprises two coaxially and detachably joined portions, and the second rotating shaft has a shaped end tip for insertion into a screw head.
The patent describes cardan-joint designs as providing less smoothness and precision than the homokinetic spherical joint. It also identifies tool cross-section and projections that interfere with tissue as concerns for minimally invasive screw operations. The described screwdriver is intended to maintain substantially constant angular velocity while reducing cross-section and tissue-interfering projections; embodiments include fixed-angle and variable output-shaft inclination arrangements.
Claims Coverage
The single independent claim covers a surgical screwdriver and its rotation-transmission arrangement. Five inventive features are identified, including refinements described in dependent claims.
Transverse rotating shafts
A first rotating shaft rotates about a longitudinal axis, while a second rotating shaft extends along a development axis transverse to the first shaft and has a shaped end tip that can be inserted into the head of a screw.
Homokinetic spherical joint
A transmission member has a homokinetic spherical joint interposed between respective first ends of the shafts to transfer rotation from the first rotating shaft to the second rotating shaft.
Hollow cylindrical sleeve
A cylindrical sleeve is internally hollow to accommodate at least part of the shafts and joint. Its first and second openings are not coaxial, and the shaped end tip projects from the second opening opposite the first opening.
Detachably joined shaft portions
The first rotating shaft comprises two discrete portions that are coaxially and detachably joined inside the sleeve, with its second end located in the portion distal from the second rotating shaft.
Joint and sleeve refinements
Dependent claims describe a spherical head with at least one lateral facet and a matching cavity that partially surrounds the head. They also describe the placement of the head and cavity on the respective shafts, a sleeve projection with a spherical outer surface that accommodates the joint, and an ergonomic outer portion of the sleeve.
The claims cover the screwdriver’s transverse shaft arrangement, homokinetic spherical-joint transmission, hollow sleeve and offset openings, and detachably joined first-shaft portions. Dependent claims further specify joint geometry, component placement, and sleeve features.
Stated Advantages
The homokinetic spherical joint maintains substantially constant angular velocity, improving smoothness and precision over cardan-joint designs.
The described embodiments reduce tool cross-section and projections that interfere with tissue, supporting minimally invasive screw operations.
Documented Applications
A surgical screwdriver for screw operations, with a shaped end tip that can be inserted into a screw head.
Minimally invasive screw operations.
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