Sliding lock device

• US 20070077827A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Elmouelhi, Ahmed, Bonde, Eric, Gerber, Ross
• Granted Patent: US 8,550,743 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/745
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00274 Prostate operation, e.g. prostatectomy, turp, bhp treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00547 Prostate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7005 Lugged member, rotary engagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7007 Bayonet joint

Abstract

The disclosure describes a system that is used to lock an accessory within a housing. For example, the accessory is a cystoscope that is locked to a hand held device that provides prostate ablation therapy. The system includes a sliding lock device (SLD) which receives and surrounds at least a portion of the cystoscope in an opening. Once the cystoscope is positioned within the SLD, the user may slide a cover to engage a tab of the cystoscope and secure the cystoscope within the SLD and the housing. The SLD also includes a mechanism for prohibiting cystoscope rotation. After the cystoscope is locked, the SLD allows for a defined amount of axial movement to facilitate prostate viewing and the deployment of prostate ablation therapy. Alternatively, the cover may slide in a rotational manner to secure the cystoscope.

Claims

1. A system for releasably attaching a device to a housing, the system comprising:

an elongate collar comprising a longitudinal bore, wherein a first end of the collar engages an opening in the housing, and wherein the collar is slideable within the opening in the housing and along a longitudinal axis of the bore of the collar;

a collar flange on a second end of the collar comprising a substantially planar first mating surface, wherein the collar flange and first mating surface are substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the bore of the collar; and

a cover comprising a substantially planar second mating surface and a pair of sidewalls substantially parallel to the second mating surface, wherein the sidewalls form channels for engaging the collar flange, and wherein the second mating surface slides in a place over the first mating surface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first mating surface comprises a guide structure for engaging the sidewalls of the cover.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the guide structure comprises a guide tab.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the guide structure comprises a pair of opposed substantially parallel guide tabs.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the sidewalls further comprise a retaining flange extending substantially normal to the sidewalls and substantially parallel to the second mating surface.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the cover further comprises at least one limit flange that limits movement of the cover with respect to the collar flange, wherein the limit flange is substantially normal to the second mating surface, and wherein the limit flange engages an edge region of the collar flange, and wherein the edge region is substantially normal to a plane of the first mating surface of the collar flange.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the cover comprises a pair of opposed limit flanges.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the collar further comprises at least one retaining structure that limits movement of the collar along the longitudinal axis of the collar within the opening in the housing.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the retaining structure comprises a retaining tab extending in a direction substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the collar.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the retaining structure comprises a pair of opposed parallel retaining tabs.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the retaining structure further comprises a substantially planar guide region extending along an exterior surface of the collar and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing, wherein the guide region extends from the retaining tab to the collar flange.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises an opening.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the opening comprises an unlocked opening of diameter D1 and a locked opening of diameter D2.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the collar flange comprises at least one first locking structure and the cover comprises at least one second locking structure capable of engaging the at least one first locking structure on the collar flange to releasably attach the device to the housing.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first mating surface comprises at least one male locking structure.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the second mating surface comprises at least one female locking structure.

17. A system for releasably attaching a device, the system comprising:

an elongate collar comprising a longitudinal bore, wherein a first end of the collar comprises at least one retaining structure that extends in a direction normal to a longitudinal axis of the bore of the collar;

a collar flange on a second end of the collar comprising a substantially planar first mating surface, wherein the collar flange and first mating surface is substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the bore of the collar; and

a cover comprising a substantially planar second mating surface and a pair of sidewalls substantially parallel to the second mating surface in which the sidewalls form channels for engaging the collar flange, wherein the second mating surface comprises an opening, and wherein the second mating surface slides in a plane over the first mating surface.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first mating surface comprises a guide structure for engaging the sidewalls of the cover.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the guide structure comprises a guide tab.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the guide structure comprises a pair of opposed substantially parallel guide tabs.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the guide structure is substantially circular around the collar flange.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the sidewalls further comprise a retaining flange extending substantially normal to the sidewalls and substantially parallel to the second mating surface.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the cover further comprises at least one limit flange that limits movement of the cover with respect to the collar flange, wherein the limit flange is substantially normal to the second mating surface, and wherein the limit flange engages an edge region of the collar flange, and wherein the edge region is substantially normal to a plane of the first mating surface of the collar flange.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the retaining structure comprises a retaining tab extending in a direction substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the collar.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the opening comprises an unlocked opening of diameter D1 and a locked opening of diameter D2.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein the collar flange comprises at least one first locking structure and the cover comprises at least one second locking structure capable of engaging the at least one first locking structure on the collar flange to releasably attach the device.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the first mating surface comprises at least one male locking structure.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the second mating surface comprises at least one female locking structure.

29. A system for releasably attaching a device, the system comprising:

an elongate collar comprising a longitudinal bore, wherein a first end of the collar comprises at least one retaining structure that extends in a direction normal to a longitudinal axis of the bore of the collar;

a collar flange on a second end of the collar comprising a substantially planar first mating surface, wherein the collar flange and first mating surface is substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the bore of the collar, and wherein a first portion of the collar flange is attached to the second end of the collar; and

a cover comprising a substantially planar second mating surface coupled to the first portion of the collar flange, wherein the second mating surface comprises an opening.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein a second portion of the collar flange comprises a ramped tab that extends in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the bore of the collar.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the second portion of the collar flange flexes in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the bore of the collar when force is applied to the ramped tab.