Chucks or sockets – Socket type – Spring biased jaws
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-10
2001-10-16
Bishop, Steven C. (Department: 3722)
Chucks or sockets
Socket type
Spring biased jaws
C030S392000, C030S338000, C606S082000, C606S177000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302406
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a connector for a surgical saw blade and, more particularly, to a connector assembly for securing a sternum surgical saw blade to a housing of a surgical instrument.
2. Background Description
Collets are an important component of a surgical instrument. In particular, collets are used to mount surgical tools, such as, for example, a surgical saw blade and the like, to a housing of the surgical instrument.
In order to mount and secure a surgical saw blade, for example, within a housing of the surgical instrument it is necessary to place the surgical saw blade into the collet of the surgical instrument. Thereafter, the collet is rotated by a key or a special tool so as to press fit (e.g., friction fit) the surgical saw blade between opposing arms of the collet.
Many of these collets, however, have a tendency to become “stripped” during the mounting of or removal of the surgical saw blade. This poses a severe safety risk to the patient especially if the surgical saw blade breaks or becomes worn and cannot be removed during a surgical procedure. This is simply because the surgeon or other appropriate medical personnel may not be able to remove and replace the surgical saw blade during the surgical procedure. In these cases, the surgical instrument must either be discarded or retrofitted with a new collet.
It is further noted that the surgeon may also strip the key or lose the key which will render the surgical instrument inoperable. Also, using a key during a surgical procedure may be difficult because the surgeon or other medical professional may not be able to properly grip the key in order to open and close the collet, or may drop the key in which case it is not sterile and can no longer be used during the surgical procedure.
A further shortcoming of press or friction fitting the surgical tool within the collet of the surgical instrument is the fact that the surgical instrument can easily become dislodged or loosened during the surgical procedure. This typically happens due to the reciprocating or rotational movement of the surgical tool during the surgical procedure. The loosening or dislodging of the surgical instrument may also be the result of an overused or deteriorated collet, or simply due to the force applied by the surgeon on the surgical instrument during the surgical procedure.
Spring loaded chucking systems used in surgical instruments are also well known in the medical field. However, these spring loaded systems are not robust, and in many instances the tool also becomes loose and/or dislodged. In extreme cases, the tool may even become accidently released from the collet itself, making it very dangerous for both the surgeon and the patient. These spring loaded systems are also designed in such a manner that the surgeon may accidently “hit” the spring loaded release mechanism during use thereof. In this case, the tool can spontaneously eject from the surgical instrument posing serious injury to both the surgeon and the patient.
What is thus needed is a connector assembly that is easy to use and which securely mounts and locks the surgical tool within the housing of the surgical instrument. Such an assembly would also provide safety features to protect the surgeon and the patient, and would preferably be a keyless system. This assembly would afford a stable platform for the surgical tool.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector assembly which securely mounts and locks a surgical saw blade within a collet of a surgical instrument.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a connector assembly which properly aligns a surgical saw blade within the housing of the surgical instrument prior to locking the surgical saw blade to the collet.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a surgical connector assembly which locks the surgical saw blade within the collet of the surgical instrument without any special tools, equipment and the like.
It is also a further object of the present invention to provide a connector assembly which allows a surgeon to easily remove and replace the surgical saw blade during a surgical procedure.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a connector assembly which ensures that a sternum guard is properly mounted and locked to the housing of the surgical instrument.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a connector assembly which allows the sternum guard to be mounted to the collet of the surgical instrument only after the surgical saw blade is properly mounted within the housing of the surgical instrument.
According to the invention, there is provided a connector assembly for connecting a surgical saw blade to a collet of a surgical instrument. The connector assembly allows a surgeon to align, insert and lock the surgical blade in the collet of the surgical instrument without any special tools, equipment and the like. This enables the surgeon or other medical personnel to easily remove and replace the surgical saw blade during a surgical procedure, and further provides a stable and robust platform for mounting the surgical saw blade thereto. Also, the connector assembly of the present invention provides an added safety feature by ensuring that a sternum guard is properly mounted to the housing of the surgical instrument only after the surgical saw blade is completely inserted and secured within the connector assembly of the present invention.
More particularly, the present invention includes a connector assembly which attaches a surgical saw blade to a collet of a surgical instrument. The connector assembly includes a finger gripper sleeve which is positioned within the housing. The finger gripper sleeve includes a tapered conical end portion and an inner threaded portion. The inner threaded portion is in threaded communication with a threaded sleeve mounted to the housing. This threaded communication allows the finger gripper sleeve to be rotated in both a clockwise and counter-clock wise direction.
A collet holder is positioned within the housing and includes two outwardly extending arms. A collet is positioned between the outwardly extending arms of the collet holder and includes a slot for accommodating the surgical saw blade when the surgical saw blade is positioned and securely mounted within the connector assembly. A shoulder portion of the threaded sleeve fits over the collet holder.
The connector assembly further includes a pair of outwardly biased springs or other elastic members. A pair of grippers are mounted on an end of each of the outwardly biased springs respectively such that the grippers are biased outwardly by the outwardly biased springs. Each of the grippers include a downwardly extending projection and an outer conical radial surface which corresponds to the tapered conical portion of the finger gripper sleeve. The grippers are aligned with the slot of the collet.
In order to insert and lock the surgical saw blade into the connector assembly, the surgical saw blade is first aligned and inserted into the slot of the collet. By having this proper alignment, engagement portions on opposing side edges of the surgical saw blade will self-align with the downwardly extending projections of the grippers. To properly secure the surgical saw blade to the connector assembly, the inner threaded portion of the finger gripper sleeve is then rotated in the clockwise direction until the pair of grippers are biased or “squeeze” toward the center of the housing and engaged with the engagement portions of the surgical saw blade.
The sternum guard is mounted to the housing after the finger gripper sleeve is fully rotated in the closed or secured position. When the finger gripper sleeve is in the closed position, a clearance “&Dgr;” is created between the sternum guard and the end of the gripper sleeve. This clearance “&Dgr;” permits enough space for the sternum guard to be properly mounted to the housing.
REFERE
Bishop Steven C.
McGuireWoods LLP
MicroAire Surgical Instruments, Inc.
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