Quick release coupling for a dissecting tool

Claim 1

In a surgical instrument for cutting and removing tissue, the instrument having a rotary motor which drives a rotary cutting tool, the rotary cutting tool having a cutting end and a tool shaft for coupling to the motor, the motor having a rotary shaft with a recess for receiving the tool shaft of the cutting tool and a base which surrounds the rotary shaft, the improvement comprising: a sleeve which surrounds the rotary shaft and is movable between a first and a second position; a sleeve engagement member which is coupled to the base and is moveable between a retracted and extended position, the sleeve engagement member engaging the sleeve when moved between the retracted and extended positions to cause the sleeve to be moved between the first and second positions, the sleeve engagement member having an external surface which is configured to allow a user to manually grasp the sleeve engagement member so that the sleeve engagement member can be moved between the retracted and extended positions; and at least one locking member which locates and is movable within an aperture of the rotary shaft, the aperture being in communication with the recess, the locking member being contacted by the sleeve when the sleeve is moved to the first position so that the locking member protrudes into the recess of the rotary shaft and engages the tool shaft of the cutting tool to secure the tool shaft within the recess; and wherein the sleeve is disengaged from the locking member when moved to the second position to allow the locking member to retract so that the tool shaft of the cutting tool can be removed from the recess.

Claim 9

A device for releasably securing a surgical cutting tool to a rotary shaft of a rotary machine, the rotary machine having a base which surrounds the rotary shaft and the rotary shaft having a recess for receiving a tool shaft of the cutting tool, the rotary shaft, the device comprising in combination: a sleeve which surrounds the rotary shaft and is movable between a first and a second position; a sleeve engagement member which is coupled to the base and moveable between a retracted and extended position, the sleeve engagement member engaging the sleeve when moved between the retracted and extended positions to cause the sleeve to be moved between the first and second positions, the sleeve engagement member having an external surface which is configured to allow a user to manually grasp the sleeve engagement member so that the sleeve engagement member can be moved between the retracted and extended positions; first biasing means for urging the sleeve to the first position; second biasing means for urging the sleeve engagement member to one of the retracted and extended positions; and at least one locking member which locates and is movable within an aperture of the rotary shaft which extends radially outward from the recess, the locking member being contacted by the sleeve when the sleeve is moved to the first position so that the locking member protrudes into the recess of the rotary shaft and engages the tool shaft of the cutting tool to secure the tool shaft within the recess; and wherein the sleeve is disengaged from the locking member when moved to the second position to allow the locking member to retract so that the tool shaft of the cutting tool can be removed from the recess.

Claim 10

A device for releasably securing a surgical cutting tool to a rotary shaft of a rotary machine, the rotary machine having a base which surrounds the rotary shaft and the rotary shaft having a recess for receiving a tool shaft of the cutting tool, the rotary shaft, the device comprising in combination: a sleeve which surrounds the rotary shaft and is movable between a first and a second position; a sleeve engagement member which is coupled to the base and moveable between a retracted and extended position, the sleeve engagement member engaging the sleeve when moved between the retracted and extended positions to cause the sleeve to be moved between the first and second positions, the sleeve engagement member having an external surface which is configured to allow a user to manually grasp the sleeve engagement member so that the sleeve engagement member can be moved between the retracted and extended positions; first biasing means for urging the sleeve to the first position; second biasing means for urging the sleeve engagement member to one of the retracted and extended positions; and at least one locking member which locates and is movable within an aperture of the rotary shaft which extends radially outward from the recess, the locking member being contacted by the sleeve when the sleeve is moved to the first position so that the locking member protrudes into the recess of the rotary shaft and engages the tool shaft of the cutting tool to secure the tool shaft within the recess; and wherein the sleeve is disengaged from the locking member when moved to the second position to allow the locking member to retract so that the tool shaft of the cutting tool can be removed from the recess.

Claim 17

A device for releasably securing a surgical cutting tool to a rotary machine, the rotary machine having a base which houses a spindle, the spindle being recessed to receive a tool shaft of the cutting tool, the device comprising in combination: a spindle attachment which secures to the spindle of the rotary machine, the spindle attachment having a shaft engagement portion with a bore which is concentric with the recess of the spindle for receiving the tool shaft of the cutting tool when the tool shaft is inserted into the recess of the spindle, the engagement portion having an aperture which communicates with and extends radially outward from the bore; a sleeve which surrounds the spindle attachment, the sleeve being movable between a first and a second position along an axis of the spindle; a sleeve engagement member which is coupled to the base and is moveable between a retracted and extended position, the sleeve engagement member having a sleeve contact portion which surrounds the spindle attachment and has transverse tabs which extend through elongated slots formed in the base, the sleeve contact portion engaging the sleeve when the sleeve engagement member is moved between the retracted and extended positions to cause the sleeve to be moved between the first and second positions, the sleeve engagement member having an external surface which is configured to allow a user to manually grasp said external surface of the sleeve engagement member so that the sleeve engagement member can be moved between the retracted and extended positions; a first spring for urging the sleeve to the first position; a second spring for urging the sleeve engagement member to one of the extended and retracted positions; and at least one locking member which locates and is movable within the aperture of the spindle attachment, the locking member being contacted by the sleeve when the sleeve is moved to the first position so that the locking member protrudes into the bore of the spindle attachment and engages the tool shaft of the cutting tool to secure the tool shaft within the recess of the spindle, the spindle attachment, sleeve and locking member rotating with the spindle when the rotary machine is operated; and wherein the sleeve is disengaged from the locking member when moved to the second position to allow the locking member to retract so that the tool shaft of the cutting tool can be removed from the recess.

Claim 18

A device for releasably securing a surgical cutting tool to a rotary machine, the rotary machine having a base which houses a spindle, the spindle being recessed to receive a tool shaft of the cutting tool, the device comprising in combination: a spindle attachment which secures to the spindle of the rotary machine, the spindle attachment having a shaft engagement portion with a bore which is concentric with the recess of the spindle for receiving the tool shaft of the cutting tool when the tool shaft is inserted into the recess of the spindle, the engagement portion having an aperture which communicates with and extends radially outward from the bore; a sleeve which surrounds the spindle attachment, the sleeve being movable between a first and a second position along an axis of the spindle; a sleeve engagement member which is coupled to the base and is moveable between a retracted and extended position, the sleeve engagement member having a sleeve contact portion which surrounds the spindle attachment and has transverse tabs which extend through elongated slots formed in the base, the sleeve contact portion engaging the sleeve when the sleeve engagement member is moved between the retracted and extended positions to cause the sleeve to be moved between the first and second positions, the sleeve engagement member having an external surface which is configured to allow a user to manually grasp said external surface of the sleeve engagement member so that the sleeve engagement member can be moved between the retracted and extended positions; a first spring for urging the sleeve to the first position; a second spring for urging the sleeve engagement member to one of the extended and retracted positions; and at least one locking member which locates and is movable within the aperture of the spindle attachment, the locking member being contacted by the sleeve when the sleeve is moved to the first position so that the locking member protrudes into the bore of the spindle attachment and engages the tool shaft of the cutting tool to secure the tool shaft within the recess of the spindle, the spindle attachment, sleeve and locking member rotating with the spindle when the rotary machine is operated; and wherein the sleeve is disengaged from the locking member when moved to the second position to allow the locking member to retract so that the tool shaft of the cutting tool can be removed from the recess.

Claim 22

A method for removably securing a rotary cutting tool to a rotary motor of a surgical instrument used for cutting and removing tissue, the rotary cutting tool having a cutting end and a tool shaft for coupling to the motor, the motor having a rotary shaft with a recess for receiving the tool shaft of the cutting tool and a base which surrounds the rotary shaft, the method comprising the steps of: forming an aperture in the rotary shaft which communicates with the recess; locating at least one locking member within the aperture of the rotary shaft so that the locking member is free to move within the aperture; providing a sleeve which surrounds the rotary shaft and is movable between a first and second position; coupling a sleeve engagement member to the base so that the sleeve engagement member is moveable between a retracted and extended position; providing the sleeve engagement member with an external surface which is configured to allow a user to manually grasp the sleeve engagement member; manually grasping the sleeve engagement member; moving the sleeve engagement member to one of the retracted and extended positions so that the sleeve engagement member engages the sleeve and causes the sleeve to be moved between a first position wherein the sleeve contacts the locking member so that the locking member protrudes into the recess of the rotary shaft and engages the tool shaft of the cutting tool to secure the tool shaft within the recess; and then moving the sleeve engagement member to the other of the retracted and extended positions so that the sleeve engagement member is moved to the second position wherein the sleeve is disengaged from the locking member to allow the locking member to retract so that the tool shaft of the cutting tool can be removed from the recess.

Claim 23

A method for removably securing a rotary cutting tool to a rotary motor of a surgical instrument used for cutting and removing tissue, the rotary cutting tool having a cutting end and a tool shaft for coupling to the motor, the motor having a rotary shaft with a recess for receiving the tool shaft of the cutting tool and a base which surrounds the rotary shaft, the method comprising the steps of: forming an aperture in the rotary shaft which communicates with the recess; locating at least one locking member within the aperture of the rotary shaft so that the locking member is free to move within the aperture; providing a sleeve which surrounds the rotary shaft and is movable between a first and second position; coupling a sleeve engagement member to the base so that the sleeve engagement member is moveable between a retracted and extended position; providing the sleeve engagement member with an external surface which is configured to allow a user to manually grasp the sleeve engagement member; manually grasping the sleeve engagement member; moving the sleeve engagement member to one of the retracted and extended positions so that the sleeve engagement member engages the sleeve and causes the sleeve to be moved between a first position wherein the sleeve contacts the locking member so that the locking member protrudes into the recess of the rotary shaft and engages the tool shaft of the cutting tool to secure the tool shaft within the recess; and then moving the sleeve engagement member to the other of the retracted and extended positions so that the sleeve engagement member is moved to the second position wherein the sleeve is disengaged from the locking member to allow the locking member to retract so that the tool shaft of the cutting tool can be removed from the recess.