Granted Patent B2

US 7,922,726 · App. 11/764,878 · Granted Apr 12, 2011

Abstract

Claims (41)

1. A surgical tool handle, which comprises:

a) a surgical tool handle;

b) a reinforcing member comprising a first length extending from a distal reinforcing member portion having a distal end to a spaced apart proximal reinforcing member portion connectable to the tool handle; and

c) a locking mechanism comprising a locking pawl having a second length extending from a distal locking pawl portion to a proximal locking pawl portion pivotably attached to the tool handle, wherein the locking pawl is pivotable between a locked position with the distal locking pawl portion seatable in a catch of a surgical tool head secured to the tool handle with the reinforcing member received in an internal bore of the tool head, and an unlocked position with the distal locking pawl portion free of the tool head catch; and

d) wherein in the locked position, the distal locking pawl portion seatable in a catch of a surgical tool head is spaced from the tool handle by a first distance that is less than a second distance measured from the distal end of the reinforcing member to the tool handle.

2. The surgical tool handle of claim 1 wherein the reinforcing member has a blade-shaped configuration.

3. The surgical tool handle of claim 1 wherein the reinforcing member has a rod-shaped configuration.

4. The surgical tool handle of claim 3 wherein the reinforcing member has a tapered rod-shaped configuration.

5. The surgical tool handle of claim 1 wherein the reinforcing member has an outer surface along at least a portion of which a bore engagement feature is disposed, the bore engagement feature being adapted to engage a surface of an internal bore of a surgical tool head when the reinforcing member is fully received in the internal bore.

6. The surgical tool handle of claim 5 wherein the bore engagement feature of the reinforcing member is a friction engagement surface.

7. The surgical tool handle of claim 5 wherein the reinforcing member is a rod and the bore engagement feature is a threaded outer surface of the rod.

8. The surgical tool handle of claim 1 wherein the reinforcing member has an inner flow passage along at least a portion of its first length, the inner flow passage communicating with a port proximate the tool handle.

9. The surgical tool handle of claim 1 wherein the reinforcing member is connectable to a receiver set into the tool interface of the tool handle and retainable there by a retention mechanism selected from the group consisting of

a retention pin which passes through the rod,

a complementary threaded interface between the reinforcing member and the receiver, and

a set-screw screwed against the reinforcing member to secure the member in the receiver.

10. The surgical tool handle of claim 1 wherein the reinforcing member is made of a metal.

11. The surgical tool handle of claim 1 wherein the tool interface of the handle has a perpendicular locking tongue extending from it, the locking tongue being closely receivable in a corresponding tongue groove at a handle interface of a tool head, and when received therein rotation of the tool head is prevented.

12. The surgical tool handle of claim 1 wherein the first length of the reinforcing member is significantly longer than the second length of the locking pawl.

13. The surgical tool handle of claim 1 wherein in the locked position, the first distance is significantly shorter than the second distance.

14. The surgical tool handle of claim 1 wherein the tool handle has a flat tool interface against which an interface of a tool head seats when the reinforcing member is received in an interior bore of the tool head.

15. A surgical tool handle, which comprises:

a) a surgical tool handle;

b) a reinforcing member comprising a first length extending from a distal reinforcing member portion having a distal end to a spaced apart proximal reinforcing member end integral with the tool handle;

c) a locking mechanism comprising a locking pawl having a second length extending from a distal locking pawl portion to a proximal locking pawl portion pivotably connected to the tool handle, wherein the locking pawl is pivotable between a locked position with the distal locking pawl portion seatable in a catch of a surgical tool head secured to the tool handle with the reinforcing member received in an internal bore of the tool head, and an unlocked position with the distal locking pawl portion free of the tool head catch; and

d) wherein in the locked position, the distal locking pawl portion seatable in a catch of a surgical tool head is spaced from the tool handle by a first distance that is less than a second distance measured from the distal end of the reinforcing member to the tool handle.

16. The surgical tool handle of claim 15 wherein the first length of the reinforcing member is significantly longer than the second length of the locking pawl.

17. The surgical tool handle of claim 15 wherein in the locked position, the first distance is significantly shorter than the second distance.

18. A surgical tool handle, which comprises:

a) a surgical tool handle;

b) a reinforcing member comprising a first length extending from a distal reinforcing member portion having a distal end to a spaced apart proximal reinforcing member end connected to the tool handle;

c) a locking mechanism comprising a locking pawl having a second length extending from a distal locking pawl distal portion to a proximal locking pawl portion connected to the tool handle, wherein the locking pawl is movable between a locked position with the distal locking pawl portion seatable in a catch of a surgical tool head secured to the tool handle with the reinforcing member received in an internal bore of the tool head, and an unlocked position with the distal locking pawl portion free of the tool head catch; and

d) wherein in the locked position, the distal locking pawl portion seatable in a catch of a surgical tool head is spaced from the tool handle by a first distance that is less than a second distance measured from the distal end of the reinforcing member to the tool handle.

19. The surgical tool handle of claim 18 wherein the first length of the reinforcing member is significantly longer than the second length of the locking pawl.

20. The surgical tool handle of claim 18 wherein in the locked position, the first distance is significantly shorter than the second distance.

21. The surgical tool handle of claim 18 wherein the reinforcing member is detachable from the tool handle.

22. A surgical tool handle, which comprises:

a) a surgical tool handle;

b) a reinforcing member comprising an outer surface having a first length extending from a distal reinforcing member portion including a distal end to a spaced apart proximal reinforcing member portion connected to the tool handle, wherein at least a portion of the outer surface is threaded;

c) a locking mechanism comprising a locking pawl having a distal locking pawl portion extending to a proximal locking pawl portion pivotably attached to the tool handle, wherein the locking pawl is pivotable between a locked position with the distal locking pawl portion seatable in a catch of a surgical tool head secured to the tool handle with the reinforcing member received in an internal bore of the tool head and an unlocked position with the distal locking pawl portion free of the tool head catch; and

d) wherein the threaded outer surface of the reinforcing member is adapted to threadingly engage the internal bore of a surgical tool head when the reinforcing member is fully received in the internal bore.

Assignments (10)