How to use the ovipositor drilling mechanism of hymenoptera for developing a surgical instrument in biomimetic design

Abstract

Hymenopterous insects are able to drill several inches into fresh wood with an egg-laying organ (ovipositor) as thin as a hair, to deposit their eggs. Up to now only one method of boring, i.e. rotary drilling, is technically used. The transfer of biomimetic principle to the fi eld of orthopedic surgery was done in the bionic development process. The analysis of the anatomy and physiology of hymenoptera led to the realization that it is of utmost importance to have the drill composed of three parts to enable a balanced drilling process without transfer of torque to the work piece. This principle was then implemented in a prototypical functional and design model of a drill rasp for creating cavities in the thigh bones for the form-fi tted insertion of cementless hip prosthesis stems. The challenge was to design a drilling device for application in an operating theater. Thus, the emphasis was on an ergonomic user experience, hygiene before and during the process, the specifi c anatomy of the thigh bone, and an optimal workfl ow during the operation. A patent application was fi led for the technical implementation and received the brand name Sirex™ in accordance with a wood wasp genus.