Coupling apparatus for medical instrument
First Claim
1. A coupling apparatus, comprising:
- an insertion member having a protruding portion;
a receiving member having an inner surface sized to receive the protruding portion of the insertion member wherein the insertion member and the receiving member are substantially tubular in shape and define a continuous inner passage through the coupling apparatus and wherein the receiving member has at least one longitudinal track formed on the inner surface;
engaging means disposed on the insertion member and the receiving member for coupling the insertion member with the receiving member, the engaging means being rotatable between an engaged position wherein the insertion member and the receiving member are engaged against longitudinal separation, and a disengaged position wherein the receiving member and the insertion member can be longitudinally separated; and
locking means for locking the engaging means in the engaged position, wherein the locking means comprises at least one longitudinally extending arm member slidably mounted in the at least one longitudinal track and slidable between an extended position wherein the at least one arm member locks the engaging means in the engaged position, and a withdrawn position wherein the engaging means is free to rotate between the engaged position and the disengaged position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A coupling apparatus for a medical instrument includes an insertion member having a protruding portion; a receiving member sized to receive the protruding portion of the insertion member; an engaging structure having a ridge member and a groove member for coupling the insertion member with the receiving member, one of the ridge member and the groove member being disposed on the insertion member, and the other being disposed on the receiving member, the ridge member having a ridge portion and the groove member having a groove portion, rotatable relative to one another between an engaged position wherein the ridge portion and the groove portion are engaged against longitudinal separation, and a disengaged position wherein the groove portion can be longitudinally separated from the ridge portion; and a locking member for retaining the ridge portion and the groove portion in the engaged position.
1698 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A coupling apparatus, comprising:
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an insertion member having a protruding portion; a receiving member having an inner surface sized to receive the protruding portion of the insertion member wherein the insertion member and the receiving member are substantially tubular in shape and define a continuous inner passage through the coupling apparatus and wherein the receiving member has at least one longitudinal track formed on the inner surface; engaging means disposed on the insertion member and the receiving member for coupling the insertion member with the receiving member, the engaging means being rotatable between an engaged position wherein the insertion member and the receiving member are engaged against longitudinal separation, and a disengaged position wherein the receiving member and the insertion member can be longitudinally separated; and locking means for locking the engaging means in the engaged position, wherein the locking means comprises at least one longitudinally extending arm member slidably mounted in the at least one longitudinal track and slidable between an extended position wherein the at least one arm member locks the engaging means in the engaged position, and a withdrawn position wherein the engaging means is free to rotate between the engaged position and the disengaged position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A coupling apparatus, comprising:
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an insertion member having a protruding portion; a receiving member sized to receive the protruding portion of the insertion member; engaging means disposed on the insertion member and the receiving member for coupling the insertion member with the receiving member, the engaging means being rotatable between an engaged position wherein the insertion member and the receiving member are engaged against longitudinal separation, and a disengaged position wherein the receiving member and the insertion member can be longitudinally separated; and locking means for locking the engaging means in the engaged position, wherein the locking means is slidably disposed on the insertion member, and wherein the locking means comprises a substantially tubular element slidably and non-rotatably mounted around the protruding portion of the insertion member and having at least one arm member, and wherein the receiving member has at least one longitudinal track sized to receive the at least one arm member when the engaging means is in the engaged position, whereby the locking means locks the engaging means against rotation out of the engaged position.
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17. A coupling apparatus, comprising:
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an insertion member having a protruding portion; a receiving member sized to receive the protruding portion of the insertion member; engaging means disposed on the insertion member and the receiving member for coupling the insertion member with the receiving member, the engaging means being rotatable between an engaged position wherein the insertion member and the receiving member are engaged against longitudinal separation, and a disengaged position wherein the receiving member and the insertion member can be longitudinally separated; and locking means for locking the engaging means in the engaged position, wherein the locking means comprises an arm member slidably and non-rotatably mounted on the insertion member, and wherein the receiving member has at least one longitudinal track sized to receive the arm member when the engaging means is in the engaged position, whereby the locking means locks the engaging means against rotation out of the engaged position.
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Specification