MEDICAL IMPACT TOOL ADAPTOR AND METHOD
The present invention may provide for a medical impact tool adaptor for coupling with a medical impact tool and a method for applying an impact force to a medical instrument. The impact tool adaptor may comprise a main body and connector with a first attaching member and a second attaching member. The second attaching member may be pivotally coupled with the main body and may pivot between an opened position and a closed position relative to the first attaching member. The second attaching member may be releasably secured in a closed position via a movable lock mechanism. The first and second attaching members may be coupled to a medical tool via corresponding first and second attaching interfaces. In some embodiments, the impact tool adaptor may be pivotally coupled to the medical tool. Further, the impact tool adaptor may be releasably and/or pivotally coupled to the impact tool.
1 . A tool adapter for cooperative operation with an impact tool for removing a medical instrument from a patient, comprising:
an attaching interface member fittable with a corresponding attaching interface member of an impact tool for applying an impact force to the tool adapter, and
first and second rotatable attaching interfaces fittable into corresponding attaching interfaces of the medical instrument such that attachment of the tool adaptor onto the medical instrument permits rotation of an impact tool attached to the tool adapter to a desired orientation about an axis extending through the first and second attaching interfaces of the tool adapter relative to the main axis of the medical tool aligned toward the patient, such that an impact force can be applied to the medical instrument other than along the main axis of the medical instrument.
2 . The tool adapter of claim 1 wherein the attaching interface member of the tool adapter further comprises:
a head defining a head circumference larger than an accommodating circumference in the corresponding attaching interface member of the impact tool and
a neck defining a neck circumference smaller than an accommodating circumference in the corresponding attaching interface member of the impact tool.
3 . A method for removing a medical instrument from a patient, the method comprising:
coupling a tool adaptor having first and second rotatable attaching interfaces to corresponding attaching interfaces of a medical instrument having its main axis aligned toward a patient;
coupling the tool adapter to a first clamping member of an impact tool;
coupling the tool adapter to a second clamping member of the impact tool;
securing the clamping members in place;
rotating an impact tool attached to the tool adapter about an axis extending through the first and second attaching interfaces of the tool adapter relative to the main axis of the medical tool aligned toward the patient to a desired orientation; and
receiving an impact force on an impact surface such that a portion of the impact force is transferred to the medical instrument.
4 . The method of claim 3 wherein locking the clamping members in a closed configuration comprises: rotating a locking member.
5 . The method of claim 3 further comprising:
opening the clamping members; and
decoupling the first clamping member from the tool adapter.
6 . The method of claim 3 wherein opening the clamping members comprises:
pivoting a pivotal member.
7 . The method of claim 3 wherein the receiving of an impact force on an impact surface further comprises positioning a weight such that the weight can impact the impact surface.
8 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the impact force is transferred to the medical instrument other than along the main axis of the medical tool aligned toward the patient.