Development of a novel flexible bone drill integrating hydraulic pressure wave technology

Abstract

Orthopedic surgery relies on bone drills to create tunnels for fracture fixation, bone fusion, or tendon repair. Traditional rigid and straight bone drills often pose challenges in accessing the desired entry points without risking damage to the surrounding anatomical structures, especially in minimal invasive procedures. In this study, we explore the use of hydraulic pressure waves in a flexible bone design to facilitate bone drilling. The HydroFlex Drill includes a handle for generating a hydraulic pressure wave in the flexible, fluid-filled shaft to transmit an impulse to the hammer tip, enabling bone drilling. We evaluated seven different hammer tip shapes to determine their impact on drilling efficiency. Subsequently, the most promising tip was implemented in the HydroFlex Drill. The HydroFlex Drill Validation demonstrated the drill's ability to successfully transfer the impulse generated in the handle to the hammer tip, with the shaft in different curves. This combined with the drill's ability to create indentations in bone phantom material is a promising first step towards the development of a flexible or even steerable bone drill. With ongoing research to enhance the drilling efficiency, the HydroFlex Drill opens possibilities for a range of orthopedic surgical procedures where minimally invasive drilling is essential.

Keywords: bone drilling; flexible drill; minimally invasive surgery (MIS); orthopedic surgery.