Interchangeable tool handle

1. A handle assembly comprising:

an elongate body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end;

a through-passage extending along the central longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end wherein the proximal end and the distal end of the body are open such that the through-passage extends the length of the entire assembly;

a side passage extending through the body transverse to the longitudinal axis, the side passage having a side passage longitudinal axis extending orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the side passage intersecting the through-passage, the side passage extending along either side of the through-passage, and the side passage longitudinal axis being offset from and not intersecting the central longitudinal axis; and

a locking mechanism located in the side passage and configured to releasably retain a medical tool onto the assembly.

2. The handle assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the side passage comprises a threaded inner end and a screw threadingly inserted into the threaded inner end.

3. The handle assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the screw has a generally hollow body with an outer end having a slot formed therein.

4. The handle assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the screw includes an inner end containing a ball.

5. The handle assembly according to claim 4 , wherein, when the screw is fully screwed into the side passage, the ball extends into through passage.

6. The handle assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the side passage extends beyond the through-passage, but not entirely through the body, thereby forming a blind passage.

7. The handle assembly according to claim 6 , further comprising a retaining member inserted into the side passage, the retaining member having a generally cylindrical body with an outer end having a push button and an inner end having a slot formed therethrough, wherein the slot is axially aligned with the through-passage.

8. The handle assembly according to claim 7 , further comprising a biasing member located in the blind passage such that the biasing member biases the retaining member outward from the side passage.

9. The handle assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the push button includes an elongate slot extending therethrough generally orthogonally and above the through-passage.

10. The handle assembly according to claim 9 , further comprising a passage axially aligned with the elongate slot such that a retaining pin extends through the passage and through the elongate slot such that the retaining pin retains the retaining member in the side passage.

11. The handle assembly according to claim 6 , further comprising a retaining member having a generally cylindrical body having an outer end, an inner end, and a shaft, thinner than each of the inner end and the outer end, connecting the inner end to the outer end.

12. The handle assembly according to claim 11 , further comprising a member insertable into the side passage between the outer end of the body and the inner end of the body.

13. The handle assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the retaining member is movable between a first position wherein a portion of the inner end extends into the through-passage and a second position wherein the portion of the inner end does not extend into the through-passage.

14. The handle assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a transverse passage in the distal end, generally parallel to the side passage such that a lower central portion of the transverse passage is in communication with the through-passage.

15. The handle assembly according to claim 14 , further comprising a pin inserted into the transverse passage such that a portion of the pin extends into the through-passage.

16. The handle assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the portion is configured to engage a flat on a shank of a tool and to prevent the shank from rotating within the through-passage.

17. The handle assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the through-passage has a larger diameter than a distal end of the through-passage.

18. A handle assembly comprising:

an elongate body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end;

a through-passage extending along the central longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the proximal end and the distal end of the body are open such that the through-passage extends the length of the entire assembly;

a side passage extending orthogonal to the through-passage;

a locking mechanism located in the side passage and configured to releasably retain a medical tool onto the assembly; and

a retaining member adapted to engage the locking mechanism and retain the locking mechanism in the side passage, the retaining member having a biasing member configured to bias the locking mechanism to a medical tool retaining position.

19. The handle assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a biasing member configured to move the locking mechanism between a locking and an unlocking position.

20. The handle assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the retaining member is insertable into the through-passage distal of the locking mechanism.