Driver Assemblies, Drivers, Intraosseous Devices, and Methods for Determining Voltages and/or Impedances in Biological Material

Abstract

Driver assemblies, drivers, drill bits, and methods for determining information (such as impedances, voltages, voltage differences, and changes in such information) about biological material during a medical procedure.

1 . A driver assembly configured to determine information about a target area, the driver assembly comprising:
 a driver comprising:
 a controller; 
 a motor coupled to a power source and further coupled to the controller; and 
 a first electrode configured to be coupled to the controller and further configured to be placed in or on a non-target area; 
 where the controller is configured to activate and/or deactivate the motor; and 
   a drill bit configured to be coupled to the driver and further configured to penetrate the target area, the drill bit comprising:
 a distal portion having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface extending from the second end to the first end of the distal portion of the drill bit; 
 the drill bit configured to be coupled to the controller by an electrical connection to permit electrical communication between the drill bit and the controller; and 
   where the driver assembly is configured to determine a voltage and/or a voltage difference between the target area and the non-target area, an impedance at the target area, and/or a change in at least one of a voltage difference and/or an impedance.   
     
     
         2 . The driver assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a drill bit coupler including a first end configured to be coupled to the second end of the drill bit, and a second end configured to be coupled to the driver. 
     
     
         3 . The driver assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the drill bit coupler comprises an insulator configured to prevent heat and/or electricity from the drill bit from passing beyond the drill bit coupler. 
     
     
         4 . The driver assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the driver further includes a drill bit contact coupled to the drill bit and the controller, the drill bit contact configured to provide a commutating electrical connection between the drill bit and the controller. 
     
     
         5 . The driver assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the drill bit contact comprises a non-conductive coating configured to prevent electricity from the drill bit from passing beyond the drill bit contact. 
     
     
         6 . The driver assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the distal portion of the drill bit includes grooves configured to enable the drill bit to penetrate bone to reach an intraosseous space. 
     
     
         7 . The driver assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the drill bit further includes a core extending along a length of the drill bit. 
     
     
         8 . The driver assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the core extends from the first end of the drill bit, beyond the second of the drill bit, and to a proximal end of the drill bit. 
     
     
         9 . The driver assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the drill bit includes an insulator extending from a location distal of the proximal end of the drill bit and distal of a proximal end of the core, past the second end of the drill bit, to the first end of the drill bit. 
     
     
         10 . The driver assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the insulator is disposed between the core and the outer surface to prevent electrical communication between the core and the outer surface. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 placing a first electrode of a driver assembly in or on a non-target area;   moving a drill bit of the driver assembly through biological material toward a target area in biological material;   determining at least one of an impedance, a change in an impedance, a voltage difference, and a change in a voltage difference; and   changing or stopping a rotational velocity of the drill bit when at least one of the impedance, the change in an impedance, the voltage, and the change in a voltage difference meets or exceeds a threshold.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 displaying a notification when at least one of the impedance, the change in an impedance, the voltage, and the change in a voltage difference meets or exceeds a threshold.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 placing a second electrode in or on the non-target area to form at least a three-wire configuration with the drill bit and the first electrode.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 removing the drill bit from the target area to permit access to the target area.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the drill bit assembly further comprises a drill bit coupler configured to couple the drill bit to the driver. 
     
     
         16 . A method of determining at least one of a change in an impedance and a change in a voltage difference across biological material, the method comprising:
 placing a first electrode of a driver assembly in or on a non-target area;   moving a drill bit of the driver assembly through biological material toward a target area in biological material;   setting at least one of a reference impedance and a reference voltage difference;   determining a change from at least one of the reference impedance and the reference voltage difference; and   changing or stopping a rotational velocity of the drill bit when the change from at least one of the reference impedance and the reference voltage difference meets or exceeds a threshold.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 displaying a notification when the change from at least one of the reference impedance and the reference voltage difference meets or exceeds a threshold.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 placing a second electrode in or on the non-target area to form at least a three-wire configuration.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 removing the drill bit from the target area to permit access to the target area.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the drill bit assembly further comprises a drill bit coupler configured to couple the drill bit to the driver.