Articulating Tool and Methods of Using

• US 20110152867A1
• Filed: 09/20/2010
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles River Engineering Solutions And Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Charles River Engineering Solutions And Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Lustrino, Michelle, Agarwal, Suresh, Chatzigeorgiou, Dimitris, Stefanov-Wagner, Clara, Menon, Manas, Petrzelka, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,568,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/80
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1631 Special drive shafts, e.g. flexible shafts A61B17/1642, A61B17/164 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/808 Instruments for holding or positioning bone plates, or for adjusting screw-to-plate locking mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8875 Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00318 Steering mechanisms

Abstract

Disclosed are embodiments of an articulating tool having a head that articulates and is capable of maintaining an angle for drilling or placing a fastener into a bone. The articulating tool includes a housing, an articulating head, a rotatable drive shaft, and a driver tip connected to the distal shaft portion. The articulating tool may be constructed and arranged to move between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position and the second position the articulating head and the rotatable drive shaft are at different angles with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

Claims

1. An articulating tool comprising:

a housing having a proximal housing end and a distal housing end;

said proximal housing end pivotably connected to said distal housing end by an articulating joint;

a rotatable drive shaft within said housing having at least a proximal shaft portion, a medial shaft portion, and a distal shaft portion wherein at least said medial shaft portion is non-rigid, said proximal shaft portion extending through said proximal housing end and said medial shaft portion extending through said articulating joint;

an operable tip connected to said distal shaft portion;

said articulating tool constructed and arranged to move between at least a first position and a second position, in said first position said articulating head is at a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said housing, and in said second position the longitudinal position of said housing is altered with respect to said rotatable drive shaft wherein said articulating head is at a second angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said housing;

a controller connected to said proximal end of said housing, wherein said controller is configured to change between said first position and said second position of said articulating tool by changing the longitudinal position of said rotatable drive shaft and said proximal housing end; and

a means of applying torque to said rotatable drive shaft at said proximal end of said housing.

2. The articulating tool set forth in claim 1, wherein said non-rigid shaft portion is comprised of an element known as a flexible shaft.

3. The articulating tool set forth in claim 1, further comprising an antagonistic spring connected to said articulating joint.

4. A fastener retainer comprising:

a compliant element for retaining a fastener, wherein said compliant element has an inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of a fastener head;

a means of attachment to a tool capable of driving said fastener; and

a means of movement between a first and a second position with respect to said fastener, wherein said fastener is released from said fastener retainer in said second position.

5. A method of using an articulating tool comprising:

installing an operable tip on said articulating tool;

inserting said articulating tool into a body opening;

adjusting an articulating head of said articulating tool; and

applying torque to said drive shaft of said articulating tool to engage said operable tip.

8. The method set forth in claim 8, wherein the body opening is a natural orifice.

6. The method set forth in claim 8, wherein the operable tip is comprised of a drill bit.

7. The method set forth in claim 8, wherein the operable tip is comprised of a driver bit, a fastener, and a fastener retainer.

9. The method set forth in claim 8, wherein the body opening is an incision or trocar port.

10. The method set forth in claim 8, wherein engaging said operable tip drives a fastener into body tissue.

11. The method set forth in claim 13, wherein said fastener secures an osteosynthetic implant.

12. The method set forth in claim 14, wherein said osteosynthetic implant is affixed to a rib in the thorax.