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Cordless surgical handpiece with disposable battery; and method

  • US 6,126,670 A
  • Filed: 07/08/1999
  • Issued: 10/03/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A surgical instrument for performing a surgical procedure on bone or hard tissue, comprising:

  • (a) a handpiece having a tool supporting end, and a battery receiving end with an alignment post extending therefrom, the battery receiving end of the handpiece also having a set of electrical contact elements arranged in generally concentric relation to the alignment post;

    (b) a battery pack having an attachment end with a central opening therein, and a set of mating electrical contact elements arranged in a generally circular configuration concentric to the central opening;

    (c) the central opening in the battery pack being adapted to receive the alignment post of the handpiece in a partially inserted position so as to establish a pre-attachment alignment thereof;

    (d) the sets of mating contacts being adapted to come into a mutually concentric relation in response to a further insertion of the alignment post into the central opening;

    (e) the sets of contacts upon rotation of the battery pack relative to the handpiece being adapted to then become lockingly and conductively interengaged in a predetermined relative position of the battery pack and handpiece, so as to achieve correct alignment of the parts and ensure stable mechanical attachment and support during the surgical procedure; and

    (f) means for indicating by at least one of sight, sound, and touch that the predetermined relative position has been achieved.

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