The present invention relates to the field of instrument adapters for attaching medical instruments to handles, and more specifically to a highly secure instrument adapter mechanism which allows a surgeon to quickly change an instrument shaft to alter the function of the instrument during a surgical procedure.
a and 2b illustrate an exemplary receiver for a secured instrument adapter mechanism.
a, 3b and 3c illustrate an exemplary sixty degree rotating collar for a secured instrument adapter mechanism.
d and 3e illustrate critical angles and measurements of the fingers.
a and 5b illustrate perspective and side views, respectively, of an exemplary thrust washer.
a illustrates an exemplary secured instrument adapter mechanism in its unlocked position.
b illustrates an exemplary secured instrument adapter mechanism in its semi-engaged position.
c illustrates an exemplary secured instrument adapter mechanism in its locked position.
Medical instrument handles utilize adapters to securely connect a variety of different instruments during surgical procedures. Most handles use adapters with locking and release mechanisms having intricate designs and multiple moving components. To prevent the locking and release mechanisms from damage and from exposure to bodily fluids and other debris, locking and release mechanisms are made interior to the handle.
Most internal release mechanisms use an external collar which is pushed inward towards the handle to release the shaft of an instrument. One limitation of these internal release mechanisms, however, is the stability of the external collar. When an external collar is bumped at a certain position with enough force, instruments are inadvertently released from the handle. A positive locking device would not cause an instrument to accidently release from the handle because of bumping or other vibrations.
Internal adapters known in the art also contain many components and moving parts which need to be manufactured separately and assembled. Additional parts mean additional manufacturing time and cost, as well as additional opportunities for parts to break and wear.
It is desirable to develop an internal release mechanism that does not use a pushing release.
It is desirable to develop an internal release mechanism that requires little physical effort to lock and release, yet provides a stable and secure connection between an instrument and the handle.
It is desirable to develop an internal release mechanism that uses positive, impact-proof locking.
As used herein, the term “assembly” means a plurality of mechanical parts which may or may not operate interdependently to perform a mechanical function.
As used herein, the term “chamfer” refers to a beveled, angled or tapered edge which engages the edge of a second component to create a secured junction.
As used herein, the term “finger” means a flexible or non-rigid protruding structure.
As used herein, the term “inner contoured surface” refers to the inner surface of a finger which contains at least two distinctive sections having differing radii or angles.
As used herein, the term “interior receiver channel diameter” refers to the aperture in a sixty degree rotating collar which engages a receiver.
As used herein, the term “lead-in surface portion” refers to an initial portion of an inner contoured surface placed at an angle greater than that of a ramp surface portion.
As used herein, the term “locking engagement” refers to the portion of an inner contoured surface which is adapted to engage a ball bearing.
As used herein, the term “ramp surface portion” refers to a transitional portion of an inner contoured surface placed at an angle less than that of a lead-in surface portion.
The present invention is a highly secure instrument adapter with a rotating release rather than a pushing release. The device employs ball bearings and a small number of interlocking parts to achieve stability and positive, impact proof locking.
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the present invention, references are made in the text to exemplary embodiments of a secured instrument adapter mechanism, only some of which are described herein. It should be understood that no limitations on the scope of the invention are intended by describing these exemplary embodiments. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that alternate but functionally equivalent structures and materials may be used. The inclusion of additional elements may be deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art. Specific elements disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to employ the present invention.
It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale; instead, emphasis has been placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In addition, in the embodiments depicted herein, like reference numerals in the various drawings refer to identical or near identical structural elements.
Moreover, the terms “substantially” or “approximately” as used herein may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related.
a and 2b illustrate an exemplary receiver 10 in more detail. In the exemplary embodiment shown, receiver 10 is an internal threaded tubular body 11 with flat outside end surface 12 at the front of receiver 10 and centralized shaft cavity 15 creating a tubular passage completely through receiver 10. Receiver 10 is adapted to receive the shaft of a medical instrument so that the medical instrument shaft may slide within centralized shaft cavity 15.
Receiver 10 also includes four locking apertures 18a (18b, 18c and 18d not shown) approximately half way up internal threaded tubular body 11 from flat outside end surface 12. Locking apertures 18a (18b, 18c and 18d not shown) are configured to engage locking ball bearing 70 (not shown). In the exemplary embodiment shown, receiver 10 includes four equidistant and symmetrically arranged locking apertures 18a (18b, 18c and 18d not shown). However, in further exemplary embodiments, receiver may contain more or fewer locking apertures. In still further exemplary embodiments, locking apertures may not be equidistant from each other or may not be symmetrically arranged around internal threaded tubular body 11. In yet further exemplary embodiments, locking apertures 18a (18b, 18c and 18d not shown) may be at a different distance along internal threaded tubular body 11.
In the embodiment shown, receiver 10 also includes an additional stabilizing aperture (not shown) in the top end of internal threaded tubular body 11 near flat outside end surface 12 that is designed to house at least one stabilizing ball bearing 92 and compression spring 94.
a, 3b and 3c illustrate an exemplary rotating collar 30.
It is critical that one or more stabilizing design components and structures be utilized to ensure that instrument shaft 90 is stabilized and resistant to axial, transverse and angular movement during a surgical procedure.
In the exemplary embodiment shown, a stabilizing ball bearing and spring assembly is utilized as the stabilizing component. In this exemplary embodiment, stabilizing ball bearings 92 and compression spring 94 exert a force to instrument shaft 90 when instrument shaft 90 is inserted into shaft cavity 15 and rotating collar 30 is rotated. When rotated collar 30 is rotated, a transverse force is applied to instrument shaft 90 by compressing compression spring 94 which engages a stabilizing ball bearing 92 against instrument shaft 90. Rotating collar 30 includes at least one stabilizing contoured ball bearing groove 31 that partially spans the inner surface of rotating collar 30. Stabilizing contoured ball bearing groove 31 is contoured so that it has a graduated variance in depth. Maximum force is applied to instrument shaft 90 when stabilizing ball bearing 92 is in contact with the shallowest portion of stabilizing contoured ball bearing groove 31.
In various embodiments, alternative stabilizing components such as springs, cams, contoured member, interlocking members, threaded components, protruberances and friction or pressure inducing members may be utilized to prevent movement of instrument shaft 90 during a surgical procedure. These alternatives may or may not be functionally equivalent to stabilizing ball bearing and spring assembly
Also illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated, spacer structure 39, a thinned down, flexible piece of material, holds fingers 40a, 40b, 40c and 40d a distance away from flattened surface 37. In the exemplary embodiment shown, spacer structure 39 is approximately 0.019 inches thick.
Alternating between fingers 40a and 40b, 40b and 40c, and 40c and 40d are circular apertures 44a, 44b and 44c, respectively. As illustrated in
Looking specifically at fingers 40a, 40b, 40c and 40d, in the exemplary embodiments shown, each finger 40a, 40b, 40c and 40d has outer surface 45, which is curved at a consistent radius, and smooth inner surface 46, which is also curved at a consistent radius.
Approximately halfway along fingers 40a, 40b, 40c and 40d, however, smooth inner surface 46 transitions to inner contoured surface 47, which creates a tapered portion of fingers 40a, 40b, 40c and 40d with narrow end 48 gradually transitioning to wider end 49. As illustrated most visibly in
In the exemplary embodiments shown, contoured inner surface 47 consists of three distinct portions, each having a distinct critical angle or radius. First is lead-in surface portion 47a, near narrow end 48, which transitions to ramp surface portion 47b. Rample angle surface portion 47b is flatter. Finally, locking engagement 47c, near wider end 49, is contoured to the radius of locking ball bearing 70 (not shown).
In further exemplary embodiments, rotating collar 30 may contain more or fewer fingers, and fingers may be differently spaced around flattened surface 37. In still further exemplary embodiments, fingers may be different dimesions, and the radii of contoured inner surfaces may differ to correspond to variations in receiver 10 (not shown) diameter or receiver channel 34 diameter.
However, it is desirable to have as few parts and components as possible for manufacturing, while still maintaining the desired locking and securing properties. Four fingers strikes an appropriate balance between complexity in manufacturing and functionality.
d and 3e illustrate the critical angles and measurements of fingers 40. Lead-in surface portion 47a is placed at an angle of approximately 109.114 degrees as measured from the centerline A of receiver channel 34. This angle is illustrated as θA in
Locking engagement 47c has a radius of 0.070, which is also the radius of locking ball bearing 70 (not shown). In order to securely and stably engage, locking engagement 47c and locking ball bearing 70 (not shown) must have corresponding radii.
In further exemplary embodiments, the exact angles of lead-in surface portion 47a and ramp surface portion 47b, as well as the radius of locking engagement 47c, may vary slightly. For example, the angle of ramp surface portion 47b is 86.052 degrees, but may vary by plus or minus 20 degrees. This allows for gradual engement of a instrument shaft and an increase in pressure on the specific finger 40 which is touching a locking ball bearing 70 (not shown). The angle of lead-in surface portion 47a may similarly vary by plus or minus 20 degrees. However, the exact radial measurement for locking engagement 47c may vary within an amount determined by the diameter and shape of locking ball bearing 70 (not shown), as the two radii must properly correspond to provide secure and stable engagement.
As illustrated in
In still further exemplary embodiments, fingers 40a, 40b, 40c and 40d may be separated by between 20 and 70 radial degrees, depending on the number and size of fingers required or desired. For example, some exemplary embodiments may use between 2 and 8 fingers; the more fingers, the closer together fingers will be.
a and 5b illustrate perspective and side views, respectively, of an exemplary thrust washer 50.
Also illustrated in
a, 8b and 8c illustrate an exemplary adapter's 100 securing mechanism.
a shows highly secure instrument adapter 100 at rest. Locking ball bearing 70 is in one of apertures 44, which are halfway between fingers 40. Locking ball bearing 70 is freely rotatable in aperture 44. As rotating collar 30 is rotated relative to instrument shaft 90 in a clockwise direction locking ball bearing 70 begins to be tightened between finger 40 and instrument shaft 90.
Because finger 40 is flexibly connected to rotating collar 30 at spacer structure 39 (not shown), finger 40 begins to flex outward from instrument shaft 90 as locking ball bearing 70 moves from lead-in surface portion 47a through ramp surface portion 47b, as illustrated in
Once locking ball bearing 70 reaches locking engagement 47c, the final change of radius along contoured inner surface 47, locking ball bearing 70 locks into locking aperture 18 between instrument shaft 90 and finger 40, as illustrated in
In the exemplary embodiments shown, instrument shaft 90 has groove 93 (not shown) around its circumference and aligned with locking ball bearing 70 when inserted into highly secure instrument adapter 100. When in the locked position, as illustrated in
To release instrument shaft 90, rotatable rotating collar 30 is forcibly rotated counterclockwise relative to instrument shaft 90, returning securing mechanism to its resting, or unlocked, position as illustrated in
The flexibility of spacer structure 39, and the rotating design of highly secure instrument adapter 100, also makes the locking functions impact-proof. For example, bumping instrument shaft 90 in any direction will not shake or move locking ball bearing 70 from the locked position, but may cause locking ball bearing 70 to flex finger 40 relative to instrument shaft 90, while locking ball bearing 70 remains in its locked position (engaging locking engagement 47c).
As illustrated in the exemplary embodiments shown in
The exemplary embodiment described in
In the exemplary embodiments described, locking ball bearing 70 moves quickly over lead-in surface portion 47a, and then moves gradually over ramp surface portion 47b to locking engagement 47c. Both fast and gradual motion is needed because, if all fingers 40 only provided gradual motion, fingers 40 would need to be longer and there would not be space for four, or even two or more, fingers 40.
With too gradual of motion, it would also require over 60 degrees of rotation to get ball bearing 70 to engage locking engagement 47c. It is desirable to have as little rotation required as possible.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/659,889 filed on Jun. 14, 2012.