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Data and Technology sector_ico_Health_trans Human Health

A Smart Drilling Tool for Distal Locking of Intramedullary Nails

TDIF04
  • Project Leaders: Antony Hodgson
  • Institutions: University of British Columbia (UBC)
  • Budget: $184729
  • Program/Competition: Technology Development Initiatives Fund
  • Genome Centre(s): Genome British Columbia
  • Status: Closed

This project aimed to develop a ‘smart’ drilling tool (“SmartDrill”) that can substantially reduce operating room time and virtually eliminate radiation exposure to the surgeon during procedures which entail the placement of screws and pins to set fractures. The expected device should eliminate the radiation exposure of the current procedure and reduce the time needed for distal screw locking from a range of 10-30 minutes to a range of 1-3 minutes, saving valuable operating theatre time.
The group has successfully completed the prototype to a level that has allowed the investigators to secure a commercial investment worth over $3 million and to launch a startup company (Traumis) for further development of this SmartDrill system, and as a vehicle to stimulate further commercialization efforts arising from research done at VGH and UBC