power on a single charge to get through most cases. "I don't even
worry about battery life at this point," says Dr. Gough. "The benefits
of using cordless tools outweigh that potential drawback."
4. Backup support
High-use and high-powered tools are at high-risk to break down at
some point during their life span. Dr. Gough says it's important to
have warranties for your fleet of power tools and ensure manufactur-
ers offer responsive service and have the capability to quickly send
loaners while the primary tools are out for repair.
Dr. Keating believes power tool vendors should check in frequently
to ensure their devices are properly serviced and says buying a single
fleet of tools from a single manufacturer simplifies servicing contracts
and timely access to backup instruments.
"Smart" tools are available that automatically send usage and per-
formance data to a cloud-based module, which presents the data in
real time in an easy-to-understand dashboard on an online portal. You
can use the information to monitor the usage of individual tools and
schedule service or repair requests through the online portal.
A cordless battery-operated single-use drill is marketed as a viable
backup to have on hand in the event a primary drill breaks or isn't
available at the last minute because of sterility issues. The disposable
drill is also handy in the event a battery-powered tool unexpectedly
runs out of juice in the middle of a case.
5. Function and versatility
There are two important elements in the performance of a tool:
• Speed is the amount of revolutions a drill bit makes or the number
of cycles a saw blade completes in a given amount of time.
• Torque is the amount of force applied at the business end of the
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