Abstract:
A surgical power tool has a head portion having a tool with a tool axis, a shaft which is connected to the head portion for guiding the head portion to the surgical site and a handle portion for exerting pressure to the head portion along the tool axis. The shaft has a longitudinal axis that is angled with respect to the tool axis. A second handle is coupled to the shaft intermediate the head portion and a gripping portion of the shaft for applying a force along the tool axis.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority from European Patent Application No. 11007282.4 filed Sep. 7, 2011, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a surgical power tool with a head portion having a tool and a shaft which is connected to the head portion for guiding the head portion to a surgical site. 
         [0003]    Surgical procedures often involve drilling, screwing or other operations at a bone. Surgical power tools are known in the art which support the surgeon when such operations need to be performed. 
         [0004]    A surgical power tool is, for example, disclosed in EP 836 976 A1 (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2007/0225720). The power tool comprises a drill or similar tool arranged at a distal end of the power tool and a gripping shaft to handle the power tool. The longitudinal axis of the gripping shaft is angled with respect to the drill or other tool. 
         [0005]    When the surgeon accomplishes a surgical procedure, he or she has to exert pressure over the gripping shaft of the surgical power tool, so that enough force will arrive at the distally arranged tool. This situation could result in a slip of, for example, the drill at the surgical site, and the patient being treated can get injured. Consequently, it requires a great effort for the surgeon to carry out an accurate drill or cut with a surgical power tool without injuring the patient. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    There is a need for a surgical power tool which supports the surgeon to carry out an accurate operation at the surgical site and reduces the risk of injuring the patient. 
         [0007]    A surgical tool is provided that comprises a head portion having a tool with a tool axis and a shaft which is connected to the head portion for guiding the head portion to a surgical site, wherein the shaft has a longitudinal axis and the tool axis is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The surgical power tool further comprises a handle portion for exerting pressure to the head portion along the tool axis. 
         [0008]    The axis of the tool is angled with respect to the shaft of the surgical power tool. This angle may be defined such that the user can easily reach the desired position at the surgical site. Thus, the angle can be between 60 and 120 degrees, for example between 80 and 100 degrees (e.g., approximately 90 degrees). The angle may be adjustable (e.g., mechanically or electrically). 
         [0009]    The power tool can be powered by any kind of electric motor. The electric motor can be accommodated in the shaft or the handle portion or can be connected to the surgical power tool by means of a driveshaft. The transfer of the power to the angled tool can be accomplished by any kind of transmission. The power tool can also be powered by pressurized air or in any other manner. 
         [0010]    The handle portion may comprise at its proximal end a handle for being gripped by a surgeon. The longitudinal axis of the handle may be substantially parallel with the tool axis. There can be any tolerance (e.g., up to 20 degrees) between the longitudinal axis of the handle and the tool axis. Due to the arrangement of the handle and the tool, pressure can be exerted to the head portion, in particular in the direction of the tool axis. The longitudinal axis of the handle may in particular be coaxial with the tool axis, so that the pressure can be accurately exerted in the direction of the tool axis and therewith to the surgical site. 
         [0011]    In an optional aspect, the handle of the handle portion is angled with respect to the shaft, so that pressure can be exerted in a direction toward the tool axis. The resultant force exerted by the surgeon on the handle may be directed towards the tool axis to support the surgical procedure. The angle between the handle and the shaft can be between 60 and 120 degrees, for example between 80 and 100 degrees (e.g., approximately 90 degrees). 
         [0012]    According to a further optional aspect, the handle portion is configured to secure the handle portion to the shaft, so that the handle portion is fixed and cannot be moved or rotated with respect to the shaft. This securing can be accomplished in a releasable manner, for example by a clamping element. The clamping element may be arranged at a distal end of the handle portion and can at least partly encompass the shaft. The clamping element can have a C- or U-like shape to accommodate the shaft. Any other shape is feasible as long as the connection can be fixed. 
         [0013]    In an exemplary implementation, the connection is such that the handle portion can easily be removed from the shaft (e.g., so that both parts can be individually sterilized). The handle portion can be secured to the shaft by means of a connecting fastener which can be a locking screw, snap-in connection or interlocking connection. 
         [0014]    Advantageously, the clamping element is distanced from the head portion, so that the handle portion is not directly connected to the head portion of the surgical power tool. The clamping element may be connected to the shaft close to the head portion to provide a small lever arm defined between the clamping element and the tool along the shaft. 
         [0015]    The clamping element may further be designed such that the handle portion can be adjusted relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, for example by a guided rail. The clamping element can also comprise some kind of electric contacts, so that information can be transferred from the handle portion to the shaft or the head portion. 
         [0016]    According to another optional aspect, the surgical power tool comprises an illumination device for providing light to the surgical site. The light may be guided by an optical cable to the surgical site or a light source can be arranged directly at the head portion. The light may be cool light. 
         [0017]    The illumination device can be guided along or inside the handle portion. In particular, the handle portion may be adapted to accommodate at least one part of the illumination device, for example a power supply of the light source, a switch of the light source and/or the light source itself. The illumination device can also be guided along or inside the shaft. 
         [0018]    In one realization, the surgical power tool comprises at least one of a mirror and an endoscope which provides a view of the surgical site, in particular the portion of the site illuminated by a illumination device. The mirror or endoscope can be arranged at the head portion, but it can also be arranged at the shaft or the handle portion. 
         [0019]    The mirror or endoscope or at least one part of it may be releasably connected to the surgical power tool. The mirror or endoscope may be adjusted, mechanically or electrically, by for example an electric motor. The adjustment may be provided remotely from the shaft or the handle portion. 
         [0020]    According to a further optional aspect, the surgical power tool comprises a rinsing device for providing fluid to the surgical site. The rinsing device can be guided at or inside the shaft or handle portion towards the tool. Any system which can provide a constant stream or flash of fluid can be connected to a rinsing inlet of the rinsing device. 
         [0021]    In a further realization, a fixture device may be arranged at the head portion, the shaft or the handle portion to hold any parts which are needed to carry out the surgical procedure. In particular, the fixture device may provide a clamping arrangement to hold the needed parts. These parts can comprise a tissue protection sleeve, a fixation module or plate that is be secured to the bone. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of a surgical power tool in a perspective view; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the surgical power tool showing  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a further enlarged perspective view of the surgical power tool showing  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a surgical power tool; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 ; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is a further enlarged perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4   
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an embodiment of a surgical power tool  1  in the form of a surgical power drill. As shown, the surgical power tool  1  comprises a shaft  10  which is surrounded at its proximal end by a grip  11 . The grip  11  extends over approximately at least half of the length of the whole shaft  10 , so that a surgeon can easily handle the power tool  1 . A head portion  20  is arranged at the distal end of the shaft  10 . This head portion  20  carries a tool  21  in the form of a drill to create a bore in the bone at the surgical site. The shaft  10  can comprise components to operate and/or drive the tool  21  of the surgical power tool  1 . Moreover, the tool  21  may be removable from the head portion  20 . 
         [0030]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the tool  21  as a tool axis that is angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shaft  10 . In the present embodiment, the angle is 90 degrees and may be adjustable within a predefined range. The surgical power tool  1  further comprises a handle portion  30  having a handle  31  at its proximal end. The handle  31  is long enough so that at least one hand of the surgeon can easily grasp the handle  31 . A longitudinal axis of the handle  31  is parallel to the tool axis of the tool  21  and may be coaxial therewith. 
         [0031]    The handle portion  30  further comprises a connecting shaft portion or linkage  33  and a clamping element  32  at its distal end. The linkage  33  is arranged between the handle  31  and the clamping element  32 . The linkage  33  is formed in a bent shape and is rigid, so that application forces can be transferred. Specifically, the linkage  33  has the form of approximately an S to facilitate, for example, intra-oral and/or transbuccal procedures. The linkage  33  is located in a plane defined by a longitudinal axis of the shaft  10  and the longitudinal axis of the handle  31 . 
         [0032]    The clamping element  32  is arranged at the distal end of the handle portion  30  and is configured to secure the handle portion  30  to the shaft  10 . The location of the clamping element  32  is situated on the shaft  10  between the head portion  20  and the grip  11 . The clamping element  32  is located spaced apart but near the head portion  20 , so that pressure can be exerted to the tool  21  over the clamping element  32  without straddling the linkage  33 . 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the clamping element  32  partly encompasses the shaft  10  and is locked by a connecting fastener  34 . The shaft  10  is fixedly clamped by the clamping element  32 , so that no movement or rotation of the handle portion  30  relative to the shaft  10  is possible. The connecting fastener  34  is a locking screw which is configured to push one part of the clamping element  32  towards the shaft  10  and therewith provides a frictional engagement. Thus, handle  30  and the shaft  10  are releasably fixed to each other. 
         [0034]    A head of the locking screw  34  is large enough so that the surgeon can easily secure and release the locking screw  34 . Due to the straight shape of the shaft  10 , the clamping element can be axially moved along the shaft  10  to any desired position when the locking screw  34  is released. The handle  31  can also be removed from the shaft  10  for cleaning and sterilization activities. 
         [0035]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , an illumination device  40  comprising a light inlet  41 , an optical cable  43  and a light outlet  42  is (mainly) arranged along the linkage  33  of the handle portion  30 . The light inlet  41  comprises a connector (not shown) to receive a light unit which generates a beam of cool light. The light outlet  42  is directed toward the tool  21  to illuminate the surgical site, wherein the light outlet  42  can be movable to position the light outlet  42  such that the surgeon is not bothered. 
         [0036]    The surgical power tool  1  further comprises a rinsing device  50  having a rinsing inlet  51 , a tube  52  and a rinsing outlet  53 . The rinsing inlet  51  is configured to be coupled to any device capable of providing a rinsing fluid. The tube  52  leads the fluid from the rinsing inlet  51  to the rinsing outlet  53 . The rinsing outlet  53  can be selectively positioned by the surgeon such that the fluid is directed towards the surgical site. The rinsing device  50  is guided along and connected to the part of the shaft  10  which is not encompassed by the grip  11 . 
         [0037]    A mirror  60  is arranged at the head portion  20  opposite of the shaft  10 , so that the surgeon operating the surgical power tool  1  can view the surgical site through this mirror  60 . The mirror  60  can be adjusted as needed by the surgeon. In addition or as an alternative to the mirror  60 , an endoscope may be used to provide a view of the surgical site. The endoscope may be attached to the surgical power tool  1  in a similar manner as (e.g., instead of) the illumination device  40  and the rinsing device  50 . 
         [0038]      FIGS. 4 to 6  show a further embodiment of a surgical power tool  1 . The difference between this embodiment and the aforementioned embodiment is that the illumination device  40  is now arranged at the shaft  10  next to the rinsing device  50 . All other parts and features correspond to the aforementioned embodiment. 
         [0039]    As has become apparent from the embodiments, the shaft for guiding the head portion to the surgical site and the handle portion to exert pressure to the tool are separated from each other, so that the surgeon can accurately guide the head portion to the desired position with one hand on grip  11  and can further exert pressure to the handle portion with the other hand on handle  31 . 
         [0040]    The surgical power tool described in the above embodiments has a tool in the form of a drill. It will be appreciated that the tool could alternatively be realized by a screw driver blade or in any other manner. 
         [0041]    While the present disclosure has been described with respect to particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described and illustrated herein. It is to be understood that the disclosure is only illustrative. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the claims attended hereto.