Selectively rotatable shaft coupler

• US 20060069307A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Boulais, Dennis R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,241,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00042 for mechanical operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00124 electrical, e.g. electrical plug-and-socket connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00128 mechanical, e.g. for tubes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32213 Articulate joint is a swivel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32975 Rotatable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32983 Rod in socket

Abstract

In one aspect, the present invention is a system for rotatably coupling a shaft to a housing. The system includes a selectively rotatable shaft coupler that connects a shaft to a housing that allows a limited amount of shaft rotation, but which sets a restriction on the maximum amount of shaft rotation. In another aspect, the invention provides a shaft coupling system for connecting a proximal end of an endoscope shaft to a housing without the use of adhesive or epoxies.

Claims

1. A system for rotatably coupling a shaft to a housing, the system comprising:

i) a shaft adapter having a rotatably securable hollow body with a first end adapted to be secured to an end of a shaft and a second end adapted to be rotatably attached to a collar;

ii) a collar extending from the housing that rotatably receives the shaft adapter; and

iii) at least one stop element capable of limiting the rotation of the shaft adapter with respect to the housing.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the stop element is located on the shaft adapter.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the stop element is a circular flange.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a bore within the collar and a cap secured over the bore such that the flange is movable in the bore by rotation of the shaft.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the collar is threaded.

6. The system of claim 5, comprising at least two stop elements located on the collar, wherein the space between the stop elements determines the range of shaft rotation.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising an engagement element located on the shaft adapter body, wherein the engagement element rides in the grooves of the threaded collar, wherein rotation of the shaft adapter in the collar causes axial movement of the shaft adapter along the collar until the engagement element contacts the first or second stop element.

8. The system of claim 5, comprising at least one stop element located on the collar, limiting rotation of the endoscope shaft in a first direction and wherein the depth of the threads on the collar limits rotation of the shaft in a second direction.

9. A system for rotatably coupling a shaft to a housing while maintaining the effective length of the shaft during rotation, the system comprising:

(i) a shaft adapter having a hollow body with a first end adapted to be secured to an end of a shaft, a second end adapted to be slidably connected to a rotary adapter, and a circular flange adjacent to the first end;

(ii) a collar extending from the housing with a first end adapted to receive the flange on the shaft adapter and a threaded lumen with a first stop element and a second stop element, wherein the first stop element and the second stop element are spaced apart from one another at a predetermined width inside the collar; and

(iii) a rotary adapter having a hollow body with a first end adapted to slidably connect to the second end of the shaft adapter and a second end comprising an engagement element, wherein the engagement element rides inside the threads of the collar, wherein rotation of the rotary adapter in the threaded collar causes incremental movement of the rotary adapter along the collar lumen until either the engagement element contacts the first stop element on the collar, limiting further rotation in the clockwise direction, or until the engagement element contacts the second stop element on the collar, limiting further rotation in the counterclockwise direction, wherein the effective length of the shaft is maintained during rotation.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the shaft adapter and the rotary adapter are slidably connected with interfacing tangs and notches.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the shaft adapter and the rotary adapter are slidably connected with interfacing grooves and ribs.

12. A system for rotatably coupling a shaft to a housing while maintaining the effective length of the shaft during rotation, the system comprising:

a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and one or more lumens therein;

a housing;

a threaded collar attached to the housing;

means for rotatably coupling the shaft to the housing; and

means for selectively rotating the shaft with respect to the housing, wherein the effective length of the shaft is maintained during rotation.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for rotatably coupling the shaft to the housing includes a shaft adapter sized to rotate in the threaded collar, the shaft adapter having a first end adapted to be secured to the proximal end of the shaft, a second end adapted to slidably connect to a rotary adapter and means to prevent axial motion of the shaft.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for selectively rotating the shaft with respect to the housing includes a rotary adapter intermediate the shaft adapter and the housing having a hollow body with a first end adapted to slidably connect to the second end of the shaft adapter, wherein the shaft adapter and the rotary adapter cooperate to limit rotation of the shaft.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the rotary adapter comprises an engagement element adapted to engage the threads of the collar.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the threaded collar has at least one stop element.

17. A system for rotatably coupling a shaft to a housing, the system comprising:

a shaft;

a housing;

a shaft adapter and

a rotary adapter;

wherein the housing comprises a threaded collar extending therefrom;

wherein the shaft adapter and rotary adapter are sized to fit inside the collar;

wherein a first end of the shaft adapter is rotatably attached to one end of the shaft;

wherein the rotary adapter is intermediate the shaft adapter and the housing and wherein the shaft adapter and rotary adapter cooperate to limit rotation of the shaft while maintaining the effective length of the shaft.

18. A shaft coupling system for coupling an endoscope shaft to a housing, the system comprising:

(i) a housing with a first end adapted to receive a shaft retainer; and

(ii) the shaft retainer comprising a plurality of retention barbs capable of securing an end of the endoscope shaft.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of retention barbs include inward rearwardly extending barbs that are capable of securing an end of the endoscope shaft and outwardly extending barbs capable of securing the shaft retainer in the housing.