Adjustable surgical handle

• US 5,867,912 A
• Filed: 05/09/1997
• Issued: 02/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DENTSPLY International Incorporated (Astrazeneca PLC)
• Original Assignee: San Diego Swiss Machining Inc.
• Inventors: Martin, Claude E., Hickok, Teresa R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Watts, Douglas D.
• Application Number:
  US08/855,737
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 30/123, 30/329, 30/330, 30/337-339, 81/439, 279/46.4, 279/56, 606/162
• US Class Current: 30/329
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3213 with detachable blades
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3217 Devices for removing or collecting used scalpel blades for sharps A61B50/362
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 5/00 Hand knives with one or more detachable blades
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/17435 Split at both ends
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/17581 Threaded cam sleeve

Abstract

A handle assembly having a swivel head for detachably holding a blade, includes a substantially elongate handle having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end is formed with a threaded shank having a having a hemispherical socket at the end thereof, a sleeve having a threaded socket on one end for threadably mounting on the threaded shank and having an open slot extending from the other end to intersection of the threaded bore and partially along the length thereof, a blade mounting head comprising a threaded cylindrical body having a shank extending from one end, the shank adapted for receipt in the open slot and having a spherical tip for receipt in the threaded bore and engagement with the sleeve and the semi-spherical socket, the body adapted for swiveling on the spherical tip in the socket and slot, an axial bore extending coaxial of the threaded cylindrical body from the other end, an elongated collet having a longitudinal axis and inner walls surrounding an axial passage and first and second opposite ends, the collet having a first longitudinal slit extending from the first end for receiving a blade into the axial passage and forming a first set of jaws that are compressible for gripping opposing sides of the blade, the collet adapted for receipt in the axial bore, and an elongated retaining sleeve member having first and second opposite open ends and a longitudinal axis with a longitudinal inner bore, the retaining member threadably mounted on the head and being configured to secure the collet and apply a compressive force to the collet for gripping a blade transverse bore intersecting the threaded bore, at the open slot.

Claims

1. A handle assembly having a swivel head for detachably holding a blade, the assembly comprising:

a elongated handle having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end formed with a threaded shank having a hemispherical socket at the end thereof;

a sleeve having a threaded bore at one end for threadably mounting on said threaded shank, said sleeve having an open slot extending from the other end to intersection of said threaded bore and partially along the length thereof;

a blade mounting head comprising a threaded cylindrical body having a shank extending from one end, said shank adapted for receipt in said open slot and having a spherical tip for receipt in said threaded bore and engagement with said sleeve and said semi-spherical socket, said body adapted for swiveling on said spherical tip in said socket and slot, an axial bore extending coaxial of said threaded cylindrical body from the other end;

an elongated collet having a longitudinal axis and inner walls surrounding an axial passage and first and second opposite ends, the collet having a first longitudinal slit extending from the first end for receiving a blade into the axial passage and forming a first set of jaws that are compressible for gripping opposing sides of the blade, said collet adapted for receipt in said axial bore; and

an elongated retaining sleeve member having first and second opposite open ends and a longitudinal axis with a longitudinal inner bore, the retaining member threadably mounted on said head and being configured to secure the collet and apply a compressive force to the collet for gripping a blade.

2. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said swivel head is selectively securable at selected angles up to 90 degrees with respect to the axis of said shaft.

3. The handle assembly of claim 2, wherein a blade secured in said head is selectively positionable at any selected angle about the axis of said head.

4. The handle assembly of claim 2, wherein said elongated handle has a generally cylindrical portion adjacent said proximal end and tapers to a smaller diameter at said distal end.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said sleeve includes a transverse bore intersecting said threaded bore at the intersection of said slot.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein said transverse bore has a diameter large enough for passage of said spherical tip.

7. The combination of claim 4, wherein the retaining sleeve of the swivel head assembly has an outside spliced surface.

8. The combination of claim 7 further comprising a combined generally cylindrical wrench and protective covering having a spliced bore at one end to match the corresponding splices of the retaining member so that twisting the wrench rotates the retaining sleeve.

9. The combination of claim 4, further comprising a combined wrench and protective shield member'"'"'s body comprises a first cylindrical portion having a first diameter and a second cylindrical portion having a second diameter, wherein the first cylindrical portion extends from the first end of the combined wrench and protective shield member to the beginning of the second cylindrical portion that extends to the second end of the combined wrench and protective shield member and the diameter of the second portion is greater than the diameter of the first portion.

10. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the retaining member has a threaded portion in the internal passage.

11. The handle assembly of claim 10, wherein the handle has a threaded portion at the first end for receiving the threaded portion of the retaining member.

12. A handle assembly having a swivel head for detachably holding a blade in selected angular positions relative to the handle, the assembly comprising:

a elongated handle having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end formed with a threaded shank having a hemispherical socket at the end thereof;

a sleeve having a threaded bore at one end for threadably mounting on said threaded shank, said sleeve having a transverse bore intermediate the ends thereof and an open slot extending from the other end to intersection of said transverse bore;

a blade mounting head comprising a threaded cylindrical body having a shank extending from one end, said shank adapted for receipt in said open slot and having a spherical tip for receipt in said threaded bore and engagement with said sleeve and said semi-spherical socket, said body adapted for swiveling on said spherical tip in said socket and slot, an axial bore extending coaxial of said threaded cylindrical body from the other end;

an elongated collet having a longitudinal axis and inner walls surrounding an axial passage and first and second opposite ends, the collet having a first longitudinal slit extending from the first end for receiving a blade into the axial passage and forming a first set of jaws that are compressible for gripping opposing sides of the blade, said collet adapted for receipt in said axial bore; and

an elongated retaining sleeve member having first and second opposite open ends and a longitudinal axis with a longitudinal inner bore, the retaining member threadably mounted on said head and being configured to secure the collet and apply a compressive force to the collet for gripping a blade.

13. The handle assembly of claim 12, wherein said swivel head is selectively securable at selected angles up to 90 degrees with respect to the axis of said shaft.

14. The handle assembly of claim 12, wherein a blade secured in said head is selectively positionable at any selected angle about the axis of said head.

15. The handle assembly of claim 12, wherein said elongated handle has a generally cylindrical portion adjacent said proximal end and tapers to a smaller diameter at said distal end.

16. The combination of claim 12, wherein said transverse bore has a diameter large enough for passage of said spherical tip.

17. The combination of claim 12, wherein the retaining sleeve of the swivel head assembly has an outside spliced surface.

18. The handle assembly of claim 12, wherein said collet is an elongated substantially conical collet having a longitudinal axis and inner walls surrounding an axial passage and first and second opposite ends, the collet having a first longitudinal slit forming a first set of jaws that are extending from the first end for receiving a blade into the axial passage and forming a first set of jaws that are compressible for gripping opposing sides of the blade, and further having a second longitudinal slit extending from the second end and forming a second set of jaws that are compressible for allowing the inner walls to grip opposing edges of the blade wherein the first longitudinal slit and the second longitudinal slit each extend from the respective first and second opposite ends such that the span of each slit overlaps the span of the other slit, wherein the first longitudinal slit is angularly displaced relative to the longitudinal axis and is offset by an angle from the second longitudinal slit;

and

said retaining sleeve having first and second opposite open ends and a longitudinal axis with a longitudinal inner passage, the retaining member mounted at the first end of the handle and being configured to secure the collet and apply a compressive force to the collet.

19. The handle assembly of claim 16, further comprising a combined wrench and protective shield member'"'"'s body comprises a first cylindrical portion having a first diameter and a second cylindrical portion having a second diameter, wherein the first cylindrical portion extends from the first end of the combined wrench and protective shield member to the beginning of the second cylindrical portion and forms a spliced coupling, the second cylindrical portion extends to the second end of the combined wrench and protective shield member and the diameter of the second portion is greater than the diameter of the first portion and has an open end, and a releasible latchable cover mounted over said open end.

20. A handle assembly having a swivel head for detachably holding a blade in selected angular positions relative to the handle, the assembly comprising:

a elongated handle having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end formed with a threaded shank having a hemispherical socket at the end thereof, said elongated handle having a generally cylindrical portion adjacent said proximal end and tapering to a smaller diameter at said distal end;

a sleeve having a threaded bore at one end for threadably mounting on said threaded shank, said sleeve having a transverse bore intermediate the ends thereof and an open slot extending from the other end to intersection of said transverse bore;

a blade mounting head comprising a threaded cylindrical body having a shank extending from one end, said shank adapted for receipt in said open slot and having a spherical tip for receipt in said threaded bore via said transverse bore and engagement with said sleeve and said semi-spherical socket, said body adapted for swiveling on said spherical tip in said socket and slot at selected angles up to 90 degrees with respect to the axis of said shaft, an axial bore extending coaxial of said threaded cylindrical body from the other end;

an elongated collet having a longitudinal axis and inner walls surrounding an axial passage and first and second opposite ends, the collet having a first longitudinal slit extending from the first end for receiving a blade into the axial passage and forming a first set of jaws that are compressible for gripping opposing sides of the blade, said collet adapted for receipt in said axial bore; and

an elongated retaining sleeve member having first and second opposite open ends and a longitudinal axis with a longitudinal inner bore, said retaining sleeve having an outside spliced surface, said retaining sleeve threadably mounted on said head and being configured to secure the collet and apply a compressive force to the collet for gripping a blade, wherein a blade secured in said head is selectively positionable at any selected angle about the axis of said head.