US20020128658A1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tool bit drive shaft connection and method
Assignee: Viant AS&O Holdings LLC
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Filing: 2002-01-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2022-01-22
Abstract
Abstract A surgical instrument is described that has a distinctive torque-transmitting coupling assembly. A tubular member made of super-elastic alloy has a driven end and a driving end with an integral tongue member, which defines a passageway that extends along a first axis. A fitting member defines a shape presenting a first mating interface surface. A tool-bit member has a second axis and presents a second mating interface surface adapted for receptive complemental facing with the first mating interface surface, including a recess formed in the second mating interface surface. Relative motion activates the super-elastic alloy of the tongue, which detentively snaps into the recess to align the first and second axes with one another. A flexible surgical reamer is similarly disclosed, where the fitting has an aperture opening onto the first mating interface surface and the tongue projects through the aperture.
Inventors
- 👤 Patrick White
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:36
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/067; G06K19/07; G06K19/077; G06K19/07701; G06K19/07703; B; B23; B23B; B23B31/00; B23B31/02; B23B31/10; B23B31/117; F; F16; F16J; F16J15/00; F16J15/02; F16J15/06; F16J15/08; F16J15/0806; F16J15/0887; G06K17/00; G06K19/04; G09; G09F; G09F21/00; G09F21/02; B23B2228/00; B23B2228/16; F16B; F16B2200/00; F16B2200/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
1 . A torque-transmitting coupling assembly comprising: a tubular member made of super-elastic alloy, defining a passageway extending along a first axis; a fitting member defining a shape presenting a first mating interface surface; and a tool-bit member having a second axis and presenting a second mating interface surface adapted for receptive complemental facing with the first mating interface surface, whereupon relative motion between the fitting and tool-bit slides the first and second mating interface surfaces sideways into juxtaposition, with the first and second axes aligned with one another.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
1 . A torque-transmitting coupling assembly comprising: a tubular member made of super-elastic alloy, defining a passageway extending along a first axis; a fitting member defining a shape presenting a first mating interface surface; and a tool-bit member having a second axis and presenting a second mating interface surface adapted for receptive complemental facing with the first mating interface surface, whereupon relative motion between the fitting and tool-bit slides the first and second mating interface surfaces sideways into juxtaposition, with the first and second axes aligned with one another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
2 . The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a tongue member made of super-elastic alloy, whereupon the relative motion activates the super-elastic alloy of the tongue, allowing the mating interface surfaces to be held in juxtaposition with one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
3 . The assembly of claim 2 further comprising a recess formed in the tool-bit, wherein the tongue detentively snaps into the recess to align the first and second axes with one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
4 . The assembly of claim 2 wherein the fitting has an aperture opening onto the first mating interface surface and the tongue projects through the aperture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
5 . The assembly of claim 2 wherein the tongue is an integral part of the tubular member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
6 . The assembly of claim 2 wherein the tongue extends axially from an end of the fitting member and into the tool-bit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
7 . The assembly of claim 1 , the fitting member further comprising a male part extending axially therefrom that defines a jig-saw shape presenting the first mating interface surface and wherein the tool-bit defines a female jigsaw shape presenting the second mating interface surface including a recess formed therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
8 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second mating interface surfaces are correspondingly curved.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
9 . The assembly of claim 2 wherein the tongue protrudes into a recess formed within the second mating interface surface to provide detenting attachment of the tool bit to the tubular member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
10 . The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a radially flexing collet that connects the fitting to the tubular member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
113 words
11 . A surgical instrument having a torque-transmitting coupling assembly and comprising: a tubular member made of super-elastic alloy with a driven and a driving end having an integral tongue member, defining a passageway extending along a first axis; a fitting member defining a shape presenting a first mating interface surface; and a tool-bit member having a second axis and presenting a second mating interface surface adapted for receptive complemental facing with the first mating interface surface, including a recess formed in the second mating interface surface, whereupon relative motion activates the super-elastic alloy of the tongue, which detentively snaps into the recess to align the first and second axes with one another.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
113 words
11 . A surgical instrument having a torque-transmitting coupling assembly and comprising: a tubular member made of super-elastic alloy with a driven and a driving end having an integral tongue member, defining a passageway extending along a first axis; a fitting member defining a shape presenting a first mating interface surface; and a tool-bit member having a second axis and presenting a second mating interface surface adapted for receptive complemental facing with the first mating interface surface, including a recess formed in the second mating interface surface, whereupon relative motion activates the super-elastic alloy of the tongue, which detentively snaps into the recess to align the first and second axes with one another.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
12 . The instrument of claim 11 wherein the fitting has an aperture opening onto the first mating interface surface and the tongue projects through the aperture.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
13 . The instrument of claim 11 wherein the tongue extends axially from an end of the fitting member and into the tool-bit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
14 . The instrument of claim 11 , the fitting member further comprising a male part extending axially therefrom that defines a jig-saw shape presenting the first mating interface surface and wherein the tool-bit defines a female jigsaw shape presenting the second mating interface surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
62 words
15 . The instrument of claim 11 , the passageway extending from an axially open center of the tubular member and opening onto the first mating interface surface, wherein the recess aligns concentrically with the passageway when the tool bit and the tubular member are slid sideways relative to one another so that the first and second mating interface surfaces are juxtaposed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
132 words
16 . A flexible surgical reamer having a torque-transmitting coupling assembly and comprising: a tubular member made of super-elastic alloy with a driven end and a driving end having an integral tongue member, defining a passageway extending along a first axis; a fitting member defining a shape presenting a first mating interface surface including an aperture opening onto the first mating interface surface, with the tongue projecting through the aperture; and a tool-bit member having a second axis and presenting a second mating interface surface adapted for receptive complemental facing with the first mating interface surface, including a recess formed in the second mating interface surface, whereupon relative motion activates the super-elastic alloy of the tongue, which detentively snaps into the recess to align the first and second axes with one another.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
132 words
16 . A flexible surgical reamer having a torque-transmitting coupling assembly and comprising: a tubular member made of super-elastic alloy with a driven end and a driving end having an integral tongue member, defining a passageway extending along a first axis; a fitting member defining a shape presenting a first mating interface surface including an aperture opening onto the first mating interface surface, with the tongue projecting through the aperture; and a tool-bit member having a second axis and presenting a second mating interface surface adapted for receptive complemental facing with the first mating interface surface, including a recess formed in the second mating interface surface, whereupon relative motion activates the super-elastic alloy of the tongue, which detentively snaps into the recess to align the first and second axes with one another.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
17 . The reamer of claim 16 further comprising another torque-transmitting coupling assembly, including a drive fitting and a radially flexing collet that connects the driven end to the drive fitting.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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