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Publication Number
US-12446940-B2
Publication Date
2025-10-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
Presented herein are torque limiting drive tools for use with, for example, components of a medical device. A torque limiting drive tool in accordance with aspects presented herein comprises an elongate handle/body and a plurality of torque arms located at a distal end of the handle, where the plurality of torque arms define an opening configured to longitudinally (axially) receive a drive bit. The plurality of torque arms are each directly mechanically attached to the handle and are configured to exert a torque on the drive bit in direct response to rotation of the elongate body in each of a first direction of rotation and a second direction of rotation.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a torque limiting drive tool for medical-device use, including an elongate handle having a proximal end and a distal end, and at least first and second torque arms located at the distal end. The torque arms define a bore configured to longitudinally receive a drive bit therein, and each torque arm is directly mechanically attached to the elongate handle and exerts torque on the drive bit in direct response to rotation of the elongate handle in a first direction of rotation and a second direction of rotation.
The torque arms have an associated first maximum torque limit in the first direction of rotation and an associated second maximum torque limit in the second direction of rotation, with the second maximum torque limit greater than the first maximum torque limit. This provides an asymmetrical torque limit for opposite rotational directions, and in at least some embodiments the relationship is defined such that the second maximum torque limit is approximately two times greater than the first maximum torque limit.
In operation at the torque limits, the torque arms deflect and step-over to rotate around an outer surface of the drive bit while the bit stops, providing haptic and possibly audible click feedback. The torque arms have a predisposition to flex inward toward a center of a bore in response to rotation in the second direction and to flex outward away from the bore center in response to rotation in the first direction, with material properties, geometry including thickness and elongate axially extending slots, and relative orientation contributing to this direction-dependent behavior.
The invention is further described as a unitary one-piece construction using polymeric material, with torque arms extending longitudinally substantially parallel to an elongate handle axis and being separated by elongate slots. A plurality of torque arms substantially surrounding an opening grip the drive bit and exert different maximum rotational forces in first and second rotational directions, and a related medical tool embodiment includes two or more torque arms forming a bore, biased toward the bore to exert torque, and configured to flex outward toward the inner surface to close spaces while establishing an asymmetrical torque limit about the axis of rotation.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims include three inventive concepts: a torque limiting drive tool with first and second torque arms and asymmetrical maximum torque limits, a torque limiting drive tool with a plurality of torque arms around an opening and direction-dependent flexing toward or away from the opening center while gripping a drive bit, and a medical tool with two or more torque arms forming a bore and producing an asymmetrical torque limit via outward flex to close spaces.
Asymmetrical maximum torque limits with first and second torque arms
A torque limiting drive tool with an elongate handle and at least first and second torque arms at a distal end defining a bore configured to receive a drive bit, where the at least first and second torque arms are each directly mechanically attached to the elongate handle and exert torque on the drive bit in direct response to rotation in a first direction and a second direction, the torque exerted having a first maximum torque limit in the first direction and a second maximum torque limit in the second direction, wherein the second maximum torque limit is greater than the first maximum torque limit.
Plurality of torque arms surrounding the opening with inward/outward flex predisposition
A torque limiting drive tool having a body with an elongate axis of rotation, an opening at a first end configured to receive a drive bit along the elongate axis of rotation, and a plurality of torque arms substantially surrounding the opening configured to grip the drive bit and exert up to a first maximum rotational force in a first rotational direction and up to a second maximum rotational force in a second rotational direction, wherein the plurality of torque arms has a predisposition to flex inward towards a center of the opening in response to rotation of the body in the second rotational direction and a predisposition to flex outward from the center of the opening in response to rotation of the body in the first rotational direction.
Asymmetrical torque limit by flexing outward to close spaces between torque arms and inner surface
A medical tool having a handle with an axis of rotation and two or more torque arms at a distal end forming a bore to receive a drive bit along the axis of rotation, where the two or more torque arms are each connected to the handle and biased towards the bore to exert a torque on the drive bit in direct response to rotation of the handle, the two or more torque arms extending radially inward from an inner surface of the handle to define respective spaces, and wherein the two or more torque arms are configured to flex outward toward the inner surface to close the respective spaces while exerting torque to establish an associated first torque limit in a first direction of rotation and an associated second torque limit in a second direction of rotation such that the torque exerted has an asymmetrical torque limit about the axis of rotation.
Across the independent claims, the common coverage is a torque-limiting drive mechanism in which torque arms grip and exert torque on a drive bit while producing direction-dependent and asymmetrical maximum torque limits, with torque-arm behavior defined by flexing in opposite directions toward or away from a bore or opening center or by flexing outward to close spaces.
Stated Advantages
Provides an asymmetrical torque limit where the second maximum torque limit is greater than the first maximum torque limit.
Provides haptic and possibly audible click feedback at torque limit actuation through torque-arm deflection and step-over, with rotation around the drive bit outer surface.
Documented Applications
Tightening and retracting threaded connectors for percutaneous bone conduction devices.
Application to other medical systems and fixation components.
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