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Impact wrench for orthopedics

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Project Overview

Hardware removal is a required part of orthopedic surgery, and often times screws have been implanted for over a year and are very tight at the time of removal. When a screw gets stripped, it becomes much harder to remove. Impact wrenches for automotive applications exist, but they are too large for the hardware used in orthopedics. Our client currently has a prototype, but it is too bulky to be used in orthopedics and may not output the adequate torque for removal of screws. Our goal is to design an impact wrench that is smaller than the current prototype and can still output enough torque to remove the screws and not strip them.

Team Picture

Team members from left to right: Evan Jellings, Joe Ulbrich, Alison Walter, Nick Hoppe, Andy Siedschlag
Team members from left to right: Evan Jellings, Joe Ulbrich, Alison Walter, Nick Hoppe, Andy Siedschlag

Images

Side by side comparison of the final design (left) and last years design (right)
Side by side comparison of the final design (left) and last years design (right)
Various SolidWorks images of the final design assembly
Various SolidWorks images of the final design assembly
Bone holder used to hold bone sample during torque testing for screw removal and stripping.
Bone holder used to hold bone sample during torque testing for screw removal and stripping.
Pig femur bone samples with surgical screws used for testing the removal torque
Pig femur bone samples with surgical screws used for testing the removal torque

Contact Information

Team Members

  • Evan Jellings - Team Leader
  • Joseph Ulbrich - Communicator
  • Nicholas Hoppe - BSAC
  • Alison Walter - BWIG
  • Mr. Andy Siedschlag - BPAG

Advisor and Client

  • Prof. John Puccinelli - Advisor
  • Dr. John Wollaeger - Client

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