Quick-connect K-wire module
View Patent ↗The present invention relates generally to a K-wire driver, particularly to a K-wire driver that interfaces with a drill equipped with a quick-connect mechanism, such as a surgical drill, and more particularly to a K-wire driver that is adapted to interface with a drill equipped with a quick-connect mechanism, such as a surgical drill, without changing modules on the drill or using a dedicated K-wire driver (i.e. with the same shaped interface engaging with the quick-connect for the K-wire as for the drill bit). Utilizing a K-wire mechanism with a quick-connect, with associated stabilization and concentricity, is desirable so that the same driver (e.g. surgical drill) with the quick-connect mechanism which can accommodate drill bits may likewise accommodate K-wire drivers of the present invention without removal of the quick-connect mechanism or module (the latter of which is required in all known present such models which interchangeably accommodate K-wire drivers vs. drilling), hence precluding the complexity (and need for reuse/re-sterilization) and associated cost of disposing what is typically a reused K-wire module/drill assembly.
1 . A method for placing a K-wire in a tissue comprising:
providing a driver comprising:
a driver quick-connect interface at a front end of said driver; and
a drill bit with a corresponding quick-connect interface attached to said driver quick-connect interface;
performing a drilling operation with said driver;
removing said drill bit;
replacing said drill bit with a K-wire driver device comprising:
a K-wire driver quick-connect interface that corresponds to said driver quick-connect interface;
a K-wire retaining mechanism adapted to reversibly grip a K-wire in a channel upon actuation by an actuation mechanism; and
a stabilizing feature for interfacing with said driver at a separate point from said driver quick-connect interface, said stabilizing feature comprising a stabilizer bar extending rearward of said K-wire driver device toward said front end of said driver and abutting a portion of said driver to counter flexing at said driver quick-connect interface;
inserting a K-wire into said channel;
actuating said actuation mechanism;
driving said K-wire via said K-wire driver device and driver; and
releasing said actuation mechanism to release said K-wire from said channel.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising interfacing said stabilizer bar with an attachment point on said driver.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said countering flexing comprises providing a countering force by providing tension between said K-wire driver device and said driver against said actuating of said actuation mechanism.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a lumen in said channel is compressed to grip said K-wire when said actuation mechanism is actuated and decompressed when released to ungrip said K-wire.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said driver quick-connect interface and said K-wire driver quick-connect interface comprise an AO quick-connect.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said countering flexing comprises pushing up against said driver to oppose flexing from said actuating of said actuation mechanism by its rigidity.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said stabilizer bar is attached to a rotational joint adapted to permit rotation of said stabilizer bar to adjust positioning.
8 . A system for stereotactic placement of a catheter into a body cavity comprising:
a driver comprising a driver quick-connect interface at a front end;
a K-wire driver device disposed forward of and coupled to said driver comprising:
a K-wire driver quick-connect interface that corresponds to said driver quick-connect interface;
a K-wire retaining mechanism adapted to reversibly grip a K-wire in a channel upon actuation by an actuation mechanism; and
a stabilizing feature for interfacing with said driver at a separate point from said driver quick-connect interface comprising a stabilizer bar extending rearward of said K-wire driver device toward said driver and adapted to abut a portion of said driver to counter flexing at said driver quick-connect interface.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein said stabilizing feature further comprises an attachment point on said driver adapted to interface with said stabilizer bar.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein said stabilizer bar is adapted to provide a countering force by providing tension between said K-wire driver drive and said driver against said actuation mechanism.
11 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising a lumen in said channel adapted to grip said K-wire by compressing in response to said actuation mechanism in an actuated state and adapted to degrip said K-wire by decompressing said actuation mechanism in a de-actuated state.
12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein said driver quick-connect interface and said K-wire driver quick-connect interface comprise an AO quick-connect.
13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein said stabilizer bar is adapted to push against said driver to oppose flexing from said actuation mechanism by its rigidity.
14 . The system of claim 8 , wherein said stabilizer bar is attached to a rotational joint adapted to permit rotation of said stabilizer bar to adjust positioning.