Medical instrument and coupling apparatus for same

• US 5,464,300 A
• Filed: 10/15/1993
• Issued: 11/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Crainich
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Crainich
• Inventors: Crainich, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin, David H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US08/136,669
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 403/348, 403/DIG. 4, 403/322, 403/325, 403/327, 403/349, 403/350, 403/353, 403/354, 604/22, 604/167, 604/174
• US Class Current: 403/322.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2931 with releasable head
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 3/08 with dovetail or other groove B25G3/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 3/16 comprising bayonet joints
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/20 using bayonet connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 403/04 Quick release
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/591 having operating mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/599 Spring biased manipulator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/602 by separate spring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7005 Lugged member, rotary engagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7016 Diametric end slot is joint component

Abstract

A medical instrument includes a handle for manipulating the instrument, a tool head, and a tube element for joining the handle and the tool head, the tube element having a first end and a second end, a first coupling for releasably coupling the first end of the tube element and the handle, and a second coupling for releasably coupling the second end of the tube element and the tool head, whereby the tool head, tube element and handle are all readily separable from each other.

Claims

1. A medical instrument, comprising:

handle means for manipulating the instrument;

a tool head;

a tube element for joining the handle means and the tool head, the tube element having a first end and a second end;

first coupling means for releasably coupling the first end of the tube element and the handle means in a coupled position wherein the tube element is rotatable relative to the handle means after could, and wherein the first coupling means comprises;

an insertion member;

a receiving member sized to receive the insertion member, each of the tube element and handle means being connected to one of the insertion member and the receiving member;

engaging means disposed on the insertion member and the receiving member for rotatably 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 engaged against longitudinal separation, and a disengaged position wherein the receiving member and the insertion member can be longitudinally separated;

locking means for rotatably locking the engaging means, the locking means being positionable between a locked position wherein the engaging means is engaged throughout an entire rotation of the insertion member relative to the receiving member, and an unlocked position wherein the insertion member can be rotated relative to the receiving member to the disengaged position; and

second coupling means for releasably coupling the second end of the tube element and the tool head in a coupled position wherein the tool head is not rotatable relative to the tube element after coupling, whereby the tool head, tube element and handle means are all readily separable from each other.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the engaging means includes at least one radially inwardly projecting section and at least one radially outwardly projecting section, one of the radially inwardly and outwardly projecting sections being disposed on the insertion member and one of the radially inwardly and outwardly projecting sections being disposed on the receiving member, the insertion member and the receiving member being rotatable relative to one another between an engaged position wherein the radially inwardly projecting section and the radially outwardly projecting section are at least partially aligned so as to prevent longitudinal separation of the insertion member and the receiving member, and a disengaged position wherein the radially inwardly projecting section and the radially outwardly projecting section are not aligned so as to allow longitudinal separation of the insertion member and the receiving member.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the locking means, when in the locked position, defines additional sections of at least one of the inwardly projecting section and the outwardly projecting section so that the inwardly projecting sections and the outwardly projecting sections are at east partially aligned and engaged at substantially all rotational positions of the insertion member relative to the receiving member.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the insertion member is a generally cylindrical structure and the outwardly projecting section is a radial ridge disposed around a portion of the insertion member, and wherein the receiving member is a generally hollow structure sized for receiving the insertion member therein, and the inwardly projecting section is a radial ridge disposed around a portion of an inner surface of the receiving member.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the insertion member has at least two outwardly projecting sections defining gaps therebetween, and wherein the receiving member has at least two inwardly projecting sections defining gaps therebetween, and wherein the gaps of the insertion member and receiving member are sufficient in size to allow passage of respective inwardly and outwardly projecting sections when the insertion member and the receiving member are in the disengaged position.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the locking means is slidably disposed on the receiving member and has additional inwardly projecting sections, the locking means being longitudinally slidable relative to the receiving member between a locked position wherein the additional inwardly projecting sections substantially fill the gaps of the receiving member and an unlocked position wherein the additional inwardly projecting sections are longitudinally withdrawn from the gaps of the receiving member.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the locking means comprises a hollow sleeve disposed longitudinally slidable relative to the receiving member between the locked position and the unlocked position, and wherein the additional inwardly projecting sections are arranged around an inner surface of the hollow sleeve.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the receiving member includes at least one cutout passing therethrough and the hollow sleeve is slidably positioned within the receiving member and has at least one gripping member extending through the cutout whereby the hollow sleeve can be longitudinally displaced between the locked position and the unlocked position.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, further including biasing means for biasing the hollow sleeve toward the locked position.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tool head and the tube element have substantially the same outside diameter.

11. A coupling apparatus for rotatably coupling two elements of a medical device, the coupling apparatus comprising:

an insertion member;

a receiving member sized to receive the insertion member;

engaging means disposed on the insertion member and the receiving member for rotatably 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 rotatably locking the engaging means, the locking means being positionable between a locked position wherein the engaging means is engaged throughout an entire rotation of the insertion member relative to the receiving member, and an unlocked position wherein the insertion member can be rotated relative to the receiving member to the disengaged position.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the engaging means includes at least one radially inwardly projecting section and at least one radially outwardly projecting section, one of the radially inwardly and outwardly projecting sections being disposed on the insertion member and one of the inwardly and outwardly projecting sections being disposed on the receiving member, the insertion member and the receiving member being rotatable relative to one another between an engaged position wherein the inwardly projecting section and the outwardly projecting section are at least partially aligned so as to prevent longitudinal separation of the insertion member and the receiving member, and a disengaged position wherein the inwardly projecting section and the outwardly projecting section are not aligned so as to allow longitudinal separation of the insertion member and the receiving member.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the locking means, when in the locked position, defines additional sections of at least one of the inwardly projecting section and the outwardly projecting section so that the inwardly projecting sections and the outwardly projecting sections are at east partially aligned and engaged at substantially all rotational positions of the insertion member relative to the receiving member.

14. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the insertion member is a cylindrical structure and the outwardly projecting section is a radial ridge disposed around a portion of the insertion member, and wherein the receiving member is a hollow structure sized for receiving the insertion member therein, and the inwardly projecting section is a radial ridge disposed around a portion of an inner surface of the receiving member.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the insertion member has at least two outwardly projecting sections defining gaps therebetween, and wherein the receiving member has at least two inwardly projecting sections defining gaps therebetween, and wherein the gaps of the insertion member and receiving member are sufficient in size to allow passage of respective inwardly and outwardly projecting sections when the insertion member and the receiving member are in the disengaged position.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the locking means is disposed in a longitudinally slidable manner relative to the receiving member and has additional inwardly projecting sections, the locking means being longitudinally slidable relative to the receiving member between a locked position wherein the additional inwardly projecting sections substantially fill the gaps of the receiving member and an unlocked position wherein the additional inwardly projecting sections are longitudinally withdrawn from the gaps of the receiving member.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the locking means comprises a hollow sleeve disposed on the receiving member and longitudinally slidable thereon between the locked position and the unlocked position, and wherein the additional inwardly projecting sections are arranged around an inner surface of the hollow sleeve.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the receiving member includes at least one cutout passing therethrough and the hollow sleeve is slidably positioned within the receiving member and has at least one gripping member extending through the cutout whereby the hollow sleeve can be longitudinally displaced between the locked position and the unlocked position.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, further including biasing means for biasing the hollow sleeve toward the locked position.

20. A medical instrument, comprising:

handle means for manipulating the instrument;

a tool head;

a tube element for joining the handle means and the tool head, the tube element having a first end and a second end;

first coupling means for releasably coupling the first end of the tube element and the handle means in a coupled position wherein the tube element is rotatable and longitudinally fixed during rotation relative to the handle means after coupling, and

second coupling means for releasably coupling the second end of the tube element and the tool head in a coupled position wherein the tool head is not rotatable relative to the tube element after coupling, whereby the tool head, tube element and handle means are all readily separable from each other.