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Publication Number
US-12453561-B2
Publication Date
2025-10-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
A surgical tool with a housing, and a cutter support shaft operably connected to a motor to effect rotation of the shaft with a drive transmission configured between the motor and the shaft to effect oscillating rotary movement of the shaft and cutter is disclosed.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a rotary oscillating surgical tool for hard-tissue modification, including bone, cartilage, and disc. The tool has a housing and a motor driving a shaft rotated about a longitudinal axis, with a drive transmission housed in the housing. The transmission is configured to oscillate a cutter shaft having a cutting tip at its distal end.
The drive transmission includes a first section coupled to the shaft that converts rotary motion of the shaft to reciprocating motion, and a second section that converts the reciprocating motion to oscillating motion for transfer to the cutter shaft. In one described implementation, the first section includes a Cardan mechanism employing a planetary gear set with a fixed ring gear and a laterally offset pinion gear revolving inside the ring gear.
A reciprocation-to-oscillation section includes a driver arm and a pivoting follower with an elongate slot that produces oscillating rotary motion. The follower drives the cutter shaft via a sector gear engaging a driven gear on the shaft, producing two counterclockwise and two clockwise oscillations per pinion revolution. The described arrangement achieves higher starting torque when torque demand peaks at oscillation reversals to better reverse cutter rotation and reduce risk of damage to fibrous tissue, including muscle and nerve.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover a rotary oscillating surgical tool where motor rotary motion is converted to reciprocating motion and then to oscillating motion for a cutter shaft oscillating about a longitudinal cutter axis. Across the independent claims, the main inventive features are organized as a two-stage motion conversion transmission, including a Cardan/reciprocation stage and a reciprocation-to-oscillation follower stage with a sector gear coupling to the cutter shaft.
Two-stage transmission converting rotary to reciprocating to oscillating cutter motion
A transmission housed in the housing and coupled to the shaft, configured to oscillate a cutter shaft having a cutting tip at its distal end, the transmission having a first section configured to convert a rotary motion of the shaft to a reciprocating motion, and a second section configured to convert the reciprocating motion to an oscillating motion so as to transfer the oscillating motion to the cutter shaft to cause the cutter shaft to oscillate about a longitudinal cutter axis of the cutter shaft.
Cardan mechanism with crank arm converting rotary motion to reciprocating motion
A first section in a form of a Cardan mechanism coupled to the shaft by a crank arm of the first section and configured to convert a rotary motion of the shaft to a reciprocating motion.
Follower converting reciprocating motion to oscillating motion for cutter-shaft oscillation
A second section having a follower coupled to the first section and configured to convert the reciprocating motion to an oscillating motion so as to transfer the oscillating motion to the cutter shaft to cause the cutter shaft to oscillate about a longitudinal cutter axis of the cutter shaft.
Overall claim coverage focuses on a transmission architecture with a first section converting rotary motion to reciprocating motion and a second section converting reciprocating motion to oscillating motion transmitted to a cutter shaft that oscillates about its longitudinal cutter axis. Dependent refinements describe a Cardan mechanism coupled by a crank arm and a follower-driven oscillation stage.
Stated Advantages
achieving higher starting torque when torque demand peaks at oscillation reversals
better reversing cutter rotation
reducing risk of damage to fibrous tissue, including muscle and nerve
Documented Applications
Hard-tissue modification, including bone, cartilage, and disc.
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