Wake Forest University

Andrea Morgan Rich

Philip J Brown

Aaron Ross Van Gorkom

Disclosed are surgical tool systems and methods for installing a fixator in biological tissue with precision and efficiency. These systems are designed to measure torque and rotational velocity accurately while providing real-time feedback to the user during surgical procedures. Utilizing integrated sensors, the system calculates torque and energy-rotation parameters, including mean torque, mean rotational velocity, mean power, and total energy. Based on these measurements, the system generates a Property I value—a weighted combination of these parameters—to assess whether the operation falls within optimal ranges. If the Property I values deviate from these ranges, the system generates corrective signals and adjusts the tool's operation to ensure optimal performance. In some cases, this iterative process continues until the fixator installation is successfully completed, enhancing surgical accuracy and reducing the risk of errors.

Smart surgical screwdriver

Disclosed herein are surgical tool systems and methods of using such to install a fixator in a biological tissue. The systems are capable of accurately measuring torque and rotational velocity and providing real time feedback to a user during surgery.

Growing community of inventors

Winston-Salem, NC, United States of America

Andrea Morgan Rich