Surgery – Instruments – Cutting – puncturing or piercing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-06
2001-12-11
Robert, Eduardo C. (Department: 3732)
Surgery
Instruments
Cutting, puncturing or piercing
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328752
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A surgical system may include a motorized handpiece in which may be inserted a variety of surgical devices having different functions and operating parameters. Typically, a surgical device is engaged in a bore of a handpiece by interaction of spring-loaded ball locks in the bore with a groove around a circumference of the surgical device. Typically, the ball locks are retracted by manipulating a collar around the exterior of the handpiece to permit insertion or removal of the surgical device.
Adapters may also be employed to permit surgical devices that are not configured for use with a particular handpiece to be used with that handpiece. For example, Sjostrom, U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,038, describes a motorized handpiece that operates a set of different surgical devices. Sjostrom's system includes adapters that permit surgical devices having differently sized hubs to be used in conjunction with a single handpiece. Each adapter includes a first end configured for engagement with the handpiece and a second end configured for engagement with one or more surgical devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, generally, the invention features an apparatus that includes a body configured for insertion into a bore of a surgical handpiece and a latch. The latch includes a resilient member connected to the body and having a latching structure configured to latchingly engage a surface of the surgical handpiece within the bore.
The invention provides considered advantages over the prior art. In particular, the body of the apparatus may be engaged with and released from the surgical handpiece without manipulating the handpiece. As a result, the handpiece does not need to include any moving parts for engagement with surgical devices or other instruments.
Embodiments may include one or more of the following features. The resilient member may be a cantilevered arm and may be configured to radially deflect during insertion into the bore of the handpiece and to return from the radial deflection to permit the latching structure to latchingly engage the surface of the surgical handpiece within the bore. The latch may also include a user-manipulable release portion mounted on the cantilevered arm, and the cantilevered arm may be configured to radially deflect in response to pressure on the release portion to disengage the latching structure from the surface of the surgical handpiece within the bore. This permits the apparatus to be released from the surgical handpiece with little effort. The latching structure may be positioned adjacent to the release portion or may be spaced from the release portion along a longitudinal axis of the body.
The body includes a proximal end for insertion into the bore. The latching structure may include a leading edge that is ramped in a direction from the proximal end of the body toward a distal end of the body and a latching surface oriented transversely to a longitudinal axis of the body. The latching surface may also include a trailing edge at a distal end of the latching structure. This trailing edge may be angled toward the distal end of the body in a radial direction from the body.
The body may also include a tab that extends radially from an exterior surface of the body and is positioned to engage an opening in the handpiece. The tab is positioned distally of the release portion. The body may be formed from a single piece of injection molded plastic, and may include a ring structure that carries the cantilevered arm and is secured to the body so that the arm extends proximally to and adjacent to an exterior surface of the body. The ring structure may be joined to a distal end of the body by a snap fit.
The body may be configured as a hub of a surgical instrument. When the body is configured as a hub, the surgical instrument may also include an outer member connected to and extending from the body to a tissue receiving opening at a distal end of the outer member, an inner member positioned in the outer member and including at its distal end a surgical tool to cut tissue, and a drive shaft connected to the inner member for rotating the inner member relative to the outer member. The body may carry a magnet that is sensed when the apparatus is inserted into the bore of the surgical handpiece.
The body may also be configured as an adapter for interconnecting a hub of a surgical instrument to the handpiece. The adapter includes a proximal end for insertion into the bore of the handpiece and a distal end configured for attachment to the hub of the surgical instrument.
The apparatus may be a component of a surgical device that also includes a handpiece. The handpiece has a bore at its distal end for insertion of the body of the apparatus and an annular flange located within the bore to latchingly engage the latching structure when the body is inserted into the bore. The annular flange may include a ramped edge at an end closest to the distal end of the handpiece and, at an end furthest from the distal end of the handpiece, an edge that is angled toward the distal end of the handpiece in a radial direction from a longitudinal axis of the bore (i.e., a back-cut edge). The handpiece may also include a slot and an opening at its distal end. A user-manipulable release portion of the latch is inserted into the slot when the body is inserted into the bore. A tab that extends radially from an exterior surface of the body and is positioned distally of the release portion may be inserted into the opening when the body is inserted into the bore.
In another aspect, generally, the invention features an apparatus that includes a body configured for insertion into a bore of a surgical handpiece, a latch and a tab. The latch includes a resilient member connected to the body and having a latching structure configured to latchingly engage a surface of the surgical handpiece within the bore. The latch also includes a user-manipulable release portion mounted on the resilient member. The tab extends radially from an exterior surface of the body.
Embodiments may include one or more of the features noted above.
In another aspect, generally, the invention features an apparatus that includes a body configured for insertion into a bore of a surgical handpiece and a latch that includes a resilient cantilevered arm connected to the body and having a latching structure configured to latchingly engage a surface of the surgical handpiece within the bore and a user-manipulable release portion mounted on the cantilevered arm. The resilient cantilevered arm is configured to radially deflect during insertion into the bore of the handpiece and to return from the radial deflection to permit the latching structure to latchingly engage the surface of the surgical handpiece within the bore, and to radially deflect in response to pressure on the release portion so as to disengage the latching structure from the surface of the surgical handpiece within the bore.
Embodiments may include one or more of the features noted above.
In another aspect, generally, the invention features a surgical device that includes a handpiece having a bore at its distal end and an apparatus that includes a body configured for insertion into the bore of the handpiece. The apparatus also includes a latch having a resilient member connected to the body and having a latching structure configured to latchingly engage a surface of the handpiece within the bore.
Additional embodiments may include one or more of the following features. When the apparatus is configured as a surgical instrument having a drive shaft, the drive shaft may have an extension that includes a drill tip configuration with sloped, canted edges at a proximal end of the drill tip configuration for engagement with the drive shaft of the motor.
In yet another aspect, generally, the invention features a surgical device that includes a handpiece having at its distal end a bore, a recessed portion on the exterior surface that includes a slot, an annular flange located within the bore, and an opening. The surgical device also includes a su
Cesarini Peter M.
Ek Steven
Sjostrom Douglas D.
Smith Graham
Torrie Paul A.
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Robert Eduardo C.
Smith & Nephew Inc.
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