# US 2024/0197429 A1 · Torque-limiting devices, systems, and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0197429 A1 - Document ID: US20240197429A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/537,057 - Filed: 2023-12-12 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-20 - Assignees: Pro-Dex, Inc. - Applicants: Pro-Dex, Inc. - Inventors: Alexander M. Pfotenhauer; Manouchehr Goharlaee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240197429A1 ## CPC - A61B 90/03: {Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety} - A61B 17/1626: {Control means; Display units} - A61B 17/1628: {Motors; Power supplies} - A61B 17/8875: {Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches} - A61B 2017/00022: {Sensing or detecting at the treatment site} - A61B 2090/031: {torque limiting} - A61B 2090/066: {for measuring torque} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Various torque-limiting surgical driver devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. The surgical driver can include a body, a motor that is configured to rotate a drill bit engaged with the surgical driver, and a processor configured to control operation of the surgical driver. The surgical driver can have torque-limiting functionality, such as by monitoring the amount of torque applied to a drill bit and reducing or stopping rotation of the drill bit when certain torque-limiting criteria are met. ## Claims ### Claim 1 (canceled) ### Claim 2 A torque-limiting surgical device comprising: a body comprising a handle that is configured to be grasped by a user; a motor positioned in the body; a drive head configured to be rotated by the motor and to drive a screw or drill bit; a battery configured to provide electric power to the motor; and a processor positioned in the body; wherein, under the control of the processor, the torque-limiting surgical device is configured to: drive the screw or drill bit into a bone, the bone comprising a first cortical portion, a second cortical portion, and a cancellous portion between said first and second cortical portions; monitor current or voltage supplied to the motor as the screw or drill bit is being driven into the bone; determine, from the current or voltage supplied to the motor, torque applied to the screw or drill bit as the screw or drill bit is being driven into the bone; determine a location of the screw or drill bit with respect to the first cortical portion of the bone at least partly by: comparing a first difference between a first pair of consecutive torque values to a first threshold; responsive to determining that said first difference is greater than or equal to said first threshold, comparing a second difference between a second pair of consecutive torque values to said first threshold; responsive to determining that said second difference is greater than or equal to said first threshold, recording a first event and comparing a third difference between a third pair of consecutive torque values to said first threshold, wherein said first event is indicative of the screw or drill bit drilling in the first cortical portion; responsive to determining that said third difference is not greater than or equal to said first threshold, comparing a fourth difference between a first pair of non-consecutive torque values to a second threshold that is different than said first threshold; and responsive to determining that said fourth difference is not greater than or equal to said second threshold and that said first event occurred, record a second event that is indicative of the screw or drill bit drilling through the first cortical portion of the bone and into the cancellous portion of the bone; and determine a location of the screw or drill bit with respect to the second cortical portion of the bone. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The torque-limiting surgical device of claim 2, wherein said second threshold is greater than said first threshold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The torque-limiting surgical device of claim 2, wherein one of said first pair of consecutive torque values is the same as one of said second pair of consecutive torque values. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The torque-limiting surgical device of claim 2, wherein one of said third pair of consecutive torque values is the same as one of said first pair of non-consecutive torque values. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The torque-limiting surgical device of claim 2, wherein said first threshold is between about 0.00195 in-oz and about 0.00205 in-oz, and wherein said second threshold is between about 0.00215 in-oz and about 0.00225 in-oz. ### Claim 7 A torque-limiting surgical device comprising: a body; a motor positioned in the body; a drive head configured to be rotated by the motor and to drive a screw or drill bit; and a processor positioned in the body; wherein, under the control of the processor, the torque-limiting surgical device is configured to: drive the screw or drill bit into a bone, the bone comprising a first cortical portion, a second cortical portion, and a cancellous portion between said first and second cortical portions; determine torque applied to the screw or drill bit as the screw or drill bit is being driven into the bone; determine a location of the screw or drill bit with respect to the first cortical portion of the bone at least partly by: comparing a first difference between a first plurality of torque values to a first threshold; responsive to determining that said first difference is greater than or equal to said first threshold, comparing a second difference between a second plurality of torque values to said first threshold; responsive to determining that said second difference is greater than or equal to said first threshold, recording a first event and comparing a third difference between a third plurality of torque values to said first threshold, wherein said first event is indicative of the screw or drill bit drilling in the first cortical portion; responsive to determining that said third difference is not greater than or equal to said first threshold, comparing a fourth difference between a fourth plurality of torque values to a second threshold that is different than said first threshold; and responsive to determining that said fourth difference is not greater than or equal to said second threshold and that said first event occurred, record a second event that is indicative of the screw or drill bit drilling through the first cortical portion of the bone and into the cancellous portion of the bone. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The torque-limiting surgical device of claim 7, wherein said second threshold is greater than said first threshold. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The torque-limiting surgical device of claim 7, wherein one of said first plurality of torque values is the same as one of said second plurality of torque values. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The torque-limiting surgical device of claim 7, wherein one of said third plurality of torque values is the same as one of said fourth plurality of torque values. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The torque-limiting surgical device of claim 7, wherein said first threshold is between about 0.00195 in-oz and about 0.00205 in-oz, and wherein said second threshold is between about 0.00215 in-oz and about 0.00225 in-oz. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The torque-limiting surgical device of claim 7, wherein said third plurality of torque values are consecutive, and wherein said fourth plurality of torque values are non-consecutive. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The torque-limiting surgical device of claim 7, wherein said first plurality of torque values are consecutive, and wherein said second plurality of torque values are consecutive. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The torque-limiting surgical device of claim 7, wherein the torque-limiting surgical device is configured to determine a location of the screw or drill bit with respect to the second cortical portion of the bone. ### Claim 15 A torque-limiting surgical device comprising: a body; a motor positioned in the body; a drive head configured to be rotated by the motor and to drive a screw or drill bit; and a processor positioned in the body; wherein, under the control of the processor, the torque-limiting surgical device is configured to: drive the screw or drill bit into a bone, the bone comprising a first cortical portion, a second cortical portion, and a cancellous portion between said first and second cortical portions; determine torque applied to the screw or drill bit as the screw or drill bit is being driven into the bone; and determine a location of the screw or drill bit with respect to the first cortical portion of the bone at least partly by: comparing a first difference between a first plurality of torque values to a first threshold; responsive to determining that said first difference is greater than or equal to said first threshold, comparing a second difference between a second plurality of torque values to said first threshold; and responsive to determining that said first difference is not greater than or equal to said first threshold, comparing a third difference between a third plurality of torque values to a second threshold that is different than said first threshold. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The torque-limiting surgical device of claim 15, wherein said second threshold is greater than said first threshold. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The torque-limiting surgical device of claim 15, wherein one of said first plurality of torque values is the same as one of said second plurality of torque values. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The torque-limiting surgical device of claim 15, wherein one of said first plurality of torque values is the same as one of said third plurality of torque values. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The torque-limiting surgical device of claim 15, wherein said first threshold is between about 0.00195 in-oz and about 0.00205 in-oz, and wherein said second threshold is between about 0.00215 in-oz and about 0.00225 in-oz. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The torque-limiting surgical device of claim 15, wherein said first plurality of torque values are consecutive, and wherein said third plurality of torque values are non-consecutive. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The torque-limiting surgical device of claim 15, wherein the torque-limiting surgical device is further configured to compare a fourth difference between a fourth plurality of torque values to said second threshold responsive to determining that said third difference is not greater than or equal to said second threshold.