Disposable torque limiting device with tooth 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 toothed 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 gear and a toothed belt corresponding to movement of the tool. The indicator provides at least one visual cue which corresponds to a predetermined amount of use. Alignment of the at least one visual cue with a sight or mark may be used to estimate or determine usage.
Claims18
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 with a gear at a second end of said body rotatable via the movement of said shaft;
- a timing wheel mounted to said body viewable at the second end of the body;
- and,
- a toothed belt interposed between said drive shaft and said timing wheel whereby movement of the drive shaft is translated into rotation of said timing 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 geared drive shaft rotatable via the movement of said shaft at said proximal end;
- a timing wheel mounted at the proximal end of the body with a top;
- a toothed belt interposed between said drive shaft and said timing wheel, whereby movement of the drive shaft is translated into rotation of said timing wheel;
- a mounting means whereby said timing wheel is rotatable about said support guide;
- at least one visual indicator on said timing wheel;
- and,
- a sight limited to a partial view of the timing 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 timing 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 toothed belt between the shaft and the timing 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 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 wheel with a geared belt between the shaft and wheel, whereby the wheel movement corresponds to the movement of the shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.