# US 12,108,957 B2 · Depth controllable and measurable medical driver devices and methods of use

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- Number: US 12,108,957 B2
- Document ID: US12108957B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/073,640
- Filed: 2022-12-02
- Published: 2023-06-01
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2008-06-26
- Assignees: Quartus Engineering Incorporated
- Applicants: Quartus Engineering, Inc.
- Inventors: Wayne Anderson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12108957B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/1624: {Drive mechanisms therefor}
- A61B 17/1633: {Sleeves, i.e. non-rotating parts surrounding the bit shaft, e.g. the sleeve forming a single unit with the bit shaft (A61B17/1644 takes precedence)}
- A61B 17/17: Guides {or aligning means} for drills {, mills, pins or wires}
- A61B 90/06: {Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for}
- A61B 17/162: {Chucks or tool parts which are to be held in a chuck}
- A61B 2090/036: {abutting on tissue or skin}
- A61B 2090/062: {penetration depth}
- A61B 2090/066: {for measuring torque}
- A61B 2217/007: with irrigation system
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

Disclosed are devices and methods for creating a bore in bone. The devices and methods described involve driving a rotating bit in an axial direction such that both rotation and linear movement are controlled and measurable. The instrument is useful for a surgeon to control and simultaneously measure the travel of the tool into the bone and prevent injury to surrounding structures.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A medical drilling device comprising:
a housing comprising:
a hand-held portion;
an engagement portion; and
an actuator;
an axial drive element extending through the housing between a proximal end of the housing and a distal end of the housing;
a first drive element coupled to the axial drive element;
a rotational drive element extending through the housing between the proximal and distal ends;
a second drive element coupled to the rotational drive element;
a coupler interchangeably connected to a working tool and the rotational drive element, wherein the coupler extends beyond the engagement portion of the housing;
a first sensor comprising a transducer interfaced to the axial drive element, the transducer configured to measure a depth of the working tool into a bore, the transducer configured to output a first signal representative of advancement of the working tool relative to the distal end of the housing, wherein the first sensor measures a distance of the advancement of the working tool beyond the distal end of the housing; and
an electronics package in electronic communication with the transducer, the electronics package including a second sensor configured to output a second signal representative of passage of the working tool through layers of tissue having differences in material strength.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the first drive element comprises a fixed axial drive motor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein the fixed axial drive motor powers the axial drive element.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The device of claim 3, wherein the axial drive element travels a distance in an axial direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The device of claim 4, wherein the axial drive element travels axially from a proximal to a distal direction or from a distal to a proximal direction relative to the housing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The device of claim 4, wherein the distance the axial drive element travels is instantaneously measured by the transducer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, wherein the electronics package translates the distance the axial drive element travels within the housing into a depth measurement of axial movement of the working tool into a bone.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the depth the working tool penetrates a bone is pre-programmed by an operator.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the axial drive element is selected from the group consisting of a jack screw, a ball screw and a lead screw.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the second drive element comprises a slidable, rotational drive motor.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The device of claim 10, wherein the axial drive element moves the slidable, rotational drive motor in an axial direction.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the second drive element coupled to the rotational drive element rotates the working tool.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the working tool is selected from the group consisting of a drill bit, Kirshner wire, trochar, burr, reamer and a screw driver.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises a rotary encoder.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The device of claim 14, wherein the rotary encoder is an incremental rotary encoder or an absolute rotary encoder.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The device of claim 15, wherein the rotary encoder is electronic, optical, magnetic or mechanical.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the working tool defines a distal-most end of the device during an entire range of advancement of the working tool beyond the distal end of the housing.