Articulating surgical tools
Various articulating tools for driving fasteners or other surgical implements are disclosed. The articulating tool may be removably connected to a handpiece comprising a motor. The articulating tool may include a torque transmission mechanism that includes a first shaft that extends through the lumen of the elongate outer housing. The first shaft may transfer the torque from the motor to an articulating torque transmission unit. The articulating torque transmission unit may transfer the torque to the bit that interlocks to the fastener. The articulating tool may include an orientation mechanism that is separate from the torque transmission mechanism. The orientation mechanism can have one or more controllers to rotate the articulating unit and driver head adapter about one or more axes.
1 . An articulating surgical tool comprising:
an elongate outer housing comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen, and a longitudinal axis, the elongate outer housing configured to engage with a handpiece comprising a motor;
a torque transmission mechanism comprising:
a first shaft that extends through the lumen of the elongate outer housing; and
an articulating torque transmission unit having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to a distal portion of the first shaft, a first bevel gear, a second bevel gear, and a third bevel gear, wherein the first bevel gear is fixedly coupled to the first shaft, the second bevel gear is coupled to a gear support shaft, and the third bevel gear is configured to removably engage with a bit and to rotate the bit around a bit axis;
wherein the torque transmission mechanism is configured to transmit torque from the motor to the bit, and wherein rotating the elongate outer housing is configured to rotate the torque transmission mechanism around the longitudinal axis; and
an orientation mechanism that is separate from the torque transmission mechanism, the orientation mechanism comprising:
a second shaft extending through the lumen of the elongate outer housing, wherein the first shaft and second shaft are concentric;
a fourth bevel gear and a fifth bevel gear, wherein the fourth bevel gear is fixedly coupled to the second shaft, and the fifth bevel gear is coupled to a driver head adapter; and
a controller connected to a proximal portion of the second shaft, the controller configured to rotate the second shaft, wherein the rotation of the second shaft rotates the driver head adapter around a transverse axis, wherein the transverse axis is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
2 . The articulating surgical tool of claim 1 , wherein the bit axis is non-coplanar with the longitudinal axis.
3 . The articulating surgical tool of claim 2 , wherein the second bevel gear is a double-sided bevel gear, and wherein the second bevel gear is between the longitudinal axis and the bit axis.
4 . The articulating surgical tool of claim 1 , wherein the bit is a bone drill bit.
5 . An articulating tool configured to facilitate placement of fasteners during a medical procedure, the articulating tool comprising:
an elongate outer housing comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen, and a longitudinal axis, the elongate outer housing configured to engage with a handpiece comprising a motor, the elongate outer housing connected to a wheel, wherein rotation of the wheel causes the elongate outer housing to rotate;
a torque transmission mechanism comprising:
a first shaft that extends through the lumen of the elongate outer housing;
an articulating torque transmission unit having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to a distal portion of the first shaft; and
a driver head adapter that is positioned at the second end of the articulating torque transmission unit, the driver head adapter configured to removably engage with a bit and to rotate the bit around a bit axis, the bit configured to engage with a fastener;
wherein the torque transmission mechanism is configured to transmit torque from the motor to the driver head adapter and the bit, and wherein rotating the elongate outer housing is configured to rotate the torque transmission mechanism around the longitudinal axis; and
an orientation mechanism that is separate from the torque transmission mechanism, the orientation mechanism comprising:
a second shaft extending through the lumen of the elongate outer housing; and
a controller connected to a proximal portion of the second shaft, the controller configured to rotate the second shaft, wherein the driver head adapter is connected to the distal portion of the second shaft, and wherein the rotation of the second shaft rotates the driver head adapter around a transverse axis, wherein the transverse axis is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
6 . The articulating tool of claim 5 , wherein the orientation mechanism comprises a first bevel gear and second bevel gear, wherein the first bevel gear is fixedly coupled to the second shaft, and the second bevel gear is coupled to the driver head adapter.
7 . The articulating tool of claim 5 , wherein the driver head adapter is configured to rotate about the transverse axis between about 0° to about 360°.
8 . The articulating tool of claim 7 , wherein the driver head adapter is configured to complete multiple revolutions about the transverse axis.
9 . The articulating tool of claim 5 , wherein the articulating torque transmission unit comprises a first bevel gear, a second bevel gear, and a third bevel gear, wherein the first bevel gear is fixedly coupled to the first shaft, the second bevel gear is coupled to a gear support shaft, and the third bevel gear is removably coupled to the bit.
10 . The articulating tool of claim 5 , wherein the driver head adapter comprises a lumen configured to receive a shaft of the bit, and wherein the driver head adapter is coupled to the shaft of the bit via a quick-release mechanism.
11 . The articulating tool of claim 5 , wherein the elongate outer housing is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis relative to the controller between about 0° to about 360°.
12 . The articulating tool of claim 5 , wherein the elongate outer housing is configured to complete multiple revolutions about the longitudinal axis relative to the controller.
13 . The articulating tool of claim 5 , wherein the controller comprises a wheel, wherein rotation of the wheel causes the second shaft to rotate.
14 . The articulating tool of claim 13 , wherein the controller includes a locking clutch that locks the rotation of the second shaft.
15 . An articulating tool configured to facilitate placement of fasteners during a medical procedure, the articulating tool comprising:
an elongate outer housing comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen, and a longitudinal axis, the elongate outer housing configured to engage with a handpiece comprising a motor;
a torque transmission mechanism comprising:
a first shaft that extends through the lumen of the elongate outer housing;
an articulating torque transmission unit having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to a distal portion of the first shaft; and
a driver head adapter that is positioned at the second end of the articulating torque transmission unit, the driver head adapter configured to removably engage with a bit and to rotate the bit around a bit axis, the bit configured to engage with a fastener;
wherein the torque transmission mechanism is configured to transmit torque from the motor to the driver head adapter and the bit, and wherein rotating the elongate outer housing is configured to rotate the torque transmission mechanism around the longitudinal axis; and
an orientation mechanism that is separate from the torque transmission mechanism, the orientation mechanism comprising:
a second shaft extending through the lumen of the elongate outer housing;
a first bevel gear fixedly coupled to the second shaft;
a second bevel gear coupled to the driver head adapter; and
a controller connected to a proximal portion of the second shaft, the controller configured to rotate the second shaft, wherein the driver head adapter is connected to the distal portion of the second shaft, and wherein the rotation of the second shaft rotates the driver head adapter around a transverse axis, wherein the transverse axis is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
16 . The articulating tool of claim 15 , wherein the elongate outer housing is connected to a wheel, and wherein rotation of the wheel causes the elongate outer housing to rotate.
17 . An articulating tool configured to facilitate placement of fasteners during a medical procedure, the articulating tool comprising:
an elongate outer housing comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen, and a longitudinal axis, the elongate outer housing configured to engage with a handpiece comprising a motor;
a torque transmission mechanism comprising:
a first shaft that extends through the lumen of the elongate outer housing;
an articulating torque transmission unit having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to a distal portion of the first shaft; and
a driver head adapter that is positioned at the second end of the articulating torque transmission unit, the driver head adapter configured to removably engage with a bit and to rotate the bit around a bit axis, the bit configured to engage with a fastener;
wherein the torque transmission mechanism is configured to transmit torque from the motor to the driver head adapter and the bit, and wherein rotating the elongate outer housing is configured to rotate the torque transmission mechanism around the longitudinal axis; and
an orientation mechanism that is separate from the torque transmission mechanism, the orientation mechanism comprising:
a second shaft extending through the lumen of the elongate outer housing; and
a controller connected to a proximal portion of the second shaft, the controller configured to rotate the second shaft, wherein the driver head adapter is connected to the distal portion of the second shaft, and wherein the rotation of the second shaft rotates the driver head adapter around a transverse axis, wherein the transverse axis is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the elongate outer housing is configured to complete multiple revolutions about the longitudinal axis relative to the controller.