Systems for using the status of a motor during a surgical drilling procedure to improve efficiency of a breakthrough algorithm
Inventors
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-12426898-B2
Publication Date
2025-09-30
Expiration Date
Abstract
A handheld surgical system includes an instrument, a depth measurement attachment, and a controller. The instrument includes a housing and a motor that is positioned within the housing. The depth measurement attachment is removably coupled to the instrument. The depth measurement attachment includes a first sensor that is configured to provide a vibration signal associated with a vibration of the motor during a drilling process, a second sensor that is configured to provide a displacement signal associated with a displacement of a drill bit during the drilling process, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the vibration signal and the displacement signal. The controller is also configured to determine a characteristic of the motor based on the vibration signal using an algorithm and determine a breakthrough event based on the motor characteristic and the displacement signal.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a handheld surgical system that uses a removably coupled depth measurement attachment to monitor a drilling process. The attachment includes a first sensor that detects a voltage of a power signal and outputs a motor status signal associated with a motor based on the detected voltage. A second sensor provides a displacement signal associated with displacement of a drill bit during the drilling process.
A controller executes one or more programs stored in memory to receive the motor status signal and the displacement signal. The programs determine whether the motor is generating rotational torque based on the motor status signal and determine a breakthrough event based on the motor status signal and the displacement signal.
The disclosed approach distinguishes procedural displacement from non-procedural displacement using whether the motor is generating rotational torque. A breakthrough event enables determining a bore-hole depth and a suitable screw length using the breakthrough time and/or displacement.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims, both focused on sensor-driven depth measurement in a handheld surgical drilling context. The independent claims share core inventive features that derive motor status from a voltage of a power signal, analyze motor status together with drill-bit displacement, determine rotational torque, and detect a breakthrough event; they differ in scope by claiming either the full handheld surgical system or the depth measurement attachment itself.
Removably coupled depth measurement attachment with power-signal voltage motor-status output
A depth measurement attachment removably coupled to the instrument, wherein the attachment includes an electrical connector receiving electrical power via a power signal and a component with a first sensor configured to detect a voltage of the power signal and to output a motor status signal associated with the motor based on the voltage during a drilling process.
Displacement sensing of the drill bit during the drilling process
A second sensor configured to provide a displacement signal associated with a displacement of a drill bit during the drilling process.
Torque determination from motor status signal and breakthrough event detection from motor status and displacement
Programs executed by a controller that receive the motor status signal and the displacement signal, determine whether the motor is generating rotational torque based on the motor status signal, and determine a breakthrough event based on the motor status signal and the displacement signal.
Depth measurement attachment for sending drill depth information
A depth measurement attachment comprising the electrical connector receiving electrical power via a power signal, a first sensor configured to detect a voltage of the power signal and output a motor status signal associated with the motor, a second sensor outputting a displacement signal associated with a displacement of a drill bit, memory, a controller, and programs for receiving the motor status signal and displacement signal, determining whether the motor is generating rotational torque based on the motor status signal, and determining a breakthrough event based on the motor status signal and the displacement signal.
Across the two independent claims, the shared inventive concept is a sensor-based depth measurement approach in which motor status is derived from a detected voltage of the power signal, rotational torque is determined from the motor status signal, and a breakthrough event is determined by combining the motor status signal and the drill-bit displacement signal. The scope is implemented either as a handheld surgical system including the removably coupled attachment or as the attachment itself configured to send drill depth information.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
Interested in licensing this patent?