Wyoming Patent of the Month – February 2025
A new invention from McGinley Orthopedics could transform how surgeons perform bone-cutting procedures, bringing greater precision and safety to the operating room. The company has developed a single-use surgical saw blade with a built-in safety feature: it physically degrades when exposed to standard sterilization processes, preventing accidental reuse.
Designed for orthopedic surgeries, the saw blade includes a specially engineered destructible component—such as part of the blade’s shank or bushing—that melts or deforms at temperatures commonly used in autoclaves. This ensures that after a procedure, any attempt to sterilize and reuse the blade renders it incompatible with the surgical saw, reducing the risk of cross-contamination or mechanical failure from overuse.
Equally significant is the system’s integration with a depth-sensing mechanism. The blade is paired with a displacement sensor and bushing that measure how far the blade has penetrated, in real time, without removing it from the bone. This allows surgeons to monitor cut depth precisely—helping them avoid damage to surrounding tissues and reducing reliance on visual or tactile guesswork.
Traditionally, orthopedic sawing has depended heavily on a surgeon’s experience to determine when a cut is complete. That uncertainty can lead to overcutting or incomplete procedures. By combining smart measurement and built-in safeguards, McGinley Orthopedics’ innovation addresses both the human and mechanical variables that complicate surgery.
This dual-function system—automatic depth tracking and enforced single use—aims to improve surgical outcomes, reduce operating room time, and lower costs tied to complications or repeated procedures.
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