Disposable torque limiting device with belt counter
AssigneeECA Medical Instruments
InventorsDavid Ivinson, John Nino, Gary Norsworthy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A torque limiting driver with a belt driven use indicator, having a body with a shaft and tool at one end and a counter or indicator at the other end, is disclosed. The indicator is driven by a drive shaft and belt corresponding to movement of the tool. The indicator provides at least one visual cue which corresponds to a predetermined amount of use, or end of life. Alignment of the at least one visual cue with a sight or mark may be used to estimate or determine usage.
Claims17
A disposable torque limiting device use indicator comprising:
- a torque limiting driver having a body;
- a tool engaging tip on a shaft at a first end of said body;
- a drive shaft rotatable via the movement of said shaft at a second end of said body;
- an indicator wheel mounted to said body viewable at the second end of the body;
- and,
- a belt interposed between said drive shaft and said indicator wheel whereby movement of the drive shaft is translated into rotation of said indicator wheel.
A use indicator comprising:
- a torque limiting driver having a body with a distal end and a proximal end;
- a tool engaging tip on a shaft at a distal end of said driver;
- a drive shaft rotatable via the movement of said shaft at said proximal end;
- an indicator wheel mounted on a support post at the proximal end of the body with a top;
- a belt interposed between said drive shaft and said indicator wheel whereby movement of the drive shaft is translated into rotation of said indicator wheel;
- a mounting means whereby said indicator is rotatable about said support post;
- at least one visual indicator on said indicator wheel;
- and,
- a sight limited to a partial view of the indicator wheel whereby said at least one visual indicator is viewable when it is aligned with said sight.
A method of end of life indication for a disposable torque limiting device, the method comprising:
- placing a rotatable indicator wheel which has visual cue information on it within a body of a disposable torque limiting driver;
- placing a shaft affixed to a tool inside said body;
- and,
- controlling the movement of the indicator wheel with a belt between the shaft and indicator wheel whereby the wheel movement corresponds to the movement of the shaft.
A method of end of life indication for a disposable torque limiting device, the method comprising:
- placing a rotatable indicator wheel which has visual cue information on it within a body of a disposable torque limiting driver;
- placing a shaft affixed to a tool inside said body;
- and,
- selecting the amount of the movement of the indicator wheel with a belt between the shaft and indicator wheel whereby the wheel movement corresponds to the movement of the shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.