US 7,591,829 B2
Surgical instrument attachment system
Roger A. Gibson, Fullerton, Calif. (US); and Dana J. Landry, Sturbridge, Mass. (US)
Assigned to Karl Storz Endovision, Inc., Charlton, Mass. (US)
Filed on Jun. 29, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/169,938.
Application 11/169938 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/909651, filed on Aug. 02, 2004, granted, now 7,226,460.
Prior Publication US 2006/0025793 A1, Feb. 02, 2006
Int. Cl. A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 606—180 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surgical instrument for performing a surgical treatment to a human or animal body, comprising:
a surgical implement and a handpiece,
wherein the handpiece includes an actuator and a coupling for attaching the surgical implement to the handpiece;
the surgical implement includes:
an outer tube member with an outer hub and an outer tube extending longitudinally from the outer hub, the outer tube and the outer hub defining a longitudinal bore, the outer hub including a circumferentially extending locking groove that receives at least one locking ball disposed in the coupling and an engaging element respectively disposed at an outer surface of the outer hub and configured for releasable attachment of the outer tube member to a corresponding member of the handpiece; and
an inner tube member including an inner hub and an inner tube extending longitudinally from the inner hub, the inner tube and the inner hub defining a longitudinal bore, the inner tube configured to insert within the longitudinal bore of the outer tube member and including an effect portion for performing a surgical treatment thereabout, the inner hub including a connection element configured for detachably connecting to the actuator of the surgical instrument for performing a the surgical treatment, a distal end portion of the inner hub configured to be rotatably received within the enlarged bore of the outer hub;
wherein the coupling includes a generally cylindrical coupler, the coupler having a longitudinal opening configured to receive a proximal portion of the surgical implement therein and at least one circumferential hole formed through the cylindrical coupler in a radial direction, the coupler further having a counterpart engaging element connectable with the engaging element of the outer hub for attachment of the surgical implement to the handpiece, wherein the at least one locking ball is slidably received within the circumferential hole of the coupler, and an outer slider having a longitudinal opening for receiving the coupler therein, the outer slider including a first circumferential inner recess formed at an intermediate portion of the opening and a second recess formed at a proximal end of the slider;
wherein the slider is moveable along the coupler between a lock position where the locking ball is pushed radially by the outer slider for engaging with the circumferential locking groove of the outer hub of the surgical implement for connection of the surgical implement to the coupling of the handpiece and an unlock position where the locking ball is at least partially retrieved into the circumferential recess of the outer slider for allowing detachment of the surgical implement from the coupling of the handpiece;
wherein a spring is disposed in the second recess of the outer slider between the coupler and the outer slider.