U.S. patent number 3,920,022 [Application Number 05/462,383] was granted by the patent office on 1975-11-18 for surgical instrument.
Invention is credited to Macey A. Pastor.
United States Patent |
3,920,022 |
Pastor |
November 18, 1975 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Surgical instrument
Abstract
A surgical pencil embodies interfitting relatively rotatable
core and cap having eccentrically positioned bores at their forward
ends. The two bores are aligned to readily receive and release the
shank of a surgical tool when the core and cap are in a first
position of relative rotation and are misaligned so as to firmly
grasp and insure good electrical contact with the tool shank when
the core and cap are in a second position of relative rotation. A
resilient cantilevered finger on the core carries a longitudinally
extending detent for selective engagement with a number of mating
ribs carried by the cap to releasably retain the parts in selected
position of relative rotation and to audibly indicate the amount
and degree of relative rotation. The instrument is configured to
allow one-handed operation to securely lock a tool thereto or to
release it so that it will simply drop from the instrument
handle.
Inventors: |
Pastor; Macey A. (Woodland
Hills, CA) |
Family
ID: |
23836248 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/462,383 |
Filed: |
April 19, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
606/41 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
18/1402 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61B
18/14 (20060101); A61B 017/36 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/303.13,303.14,303.15,303.16,303.17,303.18,303.19
;279/6,81,95,96 ;403/350 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pace; Channing L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Gausewitz, Carr &
Rothenberg
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A surgical instrument comprising a rear body portion adapted to
be held in the hand of an operator,
a forward body portion mounted to said rear body portion for
rotation about a first axis and adapted to be grasped and rotated
by the fingers of the hand in which the rear body portion is
held,
said body portions respectively having first and second tool
receiving bores positioned at respective forward ends thereof and
of substantially equal diameters, each said bore centered upon an
axis displaced from said first axis,
said bores being aligned with each other when said body portions
are in a first release position of relative angular rotation about
said first axis, and being relatively misaligned when said body
portions are in a second gripping position of relative angular
rotation, whereby a tool shank may be freely inserted into or
withdrawn from said aligned bores when the body portions are in
said release position and said tool shank will be firmly grasped by
the relatively misaligned bores when the body portions are in said
gripping postion,
said body portions being readily displaced between said gripping
and release positions by a one-handed operation in which said
forward body portion may be grasped between the operator's thumb
and another finger and said rear body portion may be grasped
between the operator's palm and other fingers of the same hand to
accomplish movement of the body portions between said gripping and
release positions, said forward body portion comprising an outer
elongated tubular element having said first tool receiving bore
formed in a front end thereof and having an enlarged inner bore
extending from an inner end of said first tool receiving bore to
the rearward end of said tubular element, said rear body portion
comprising an inner tubular element having a front end portion
rotatably received in a forward portion of said enlarged inner bore
of said outer tubular element to provide at least part of the
rotatable mounting of said body portions, said tool receiving bore
of said rear body portion extending through said front end portion
of said inner tubular element in end-to-end relation to the tool
receiving bore of said outer tubular element,
said inner tubular element including an outer peripheral surface
rotatably engaged with an inner surface of the inner bore of said
first tubular element at a rear end thereof to provide a part of
the rotatable mounting of the two body portions,
inner tubular element being axially inserted into said first
tubular element and including means for restraining relative
rotation of said tubular elements in any one of a plurality of
positions of relative rotation.
2. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said means for limiting
relative rotation comprises a circumferentially extending slot
formed in said outer tubular element and a lug carried by said
inner tubular element projecting radially outwardly therefrom into
said slot, and means for resiliently restraining radially inward
motion of said lug, whereby the lug may be displaced radially
inwardly against the resilient restraint thereof to allow relative
axial motion of said first and second tubular element and whereby
said lug, when it projects through said slot, effectively prevents
relative axial motion of said first and second tubular elements but
permits a limited relative rotation thereof.
3. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said means for restraining
relative rotation of said elements comprises a plurality of
interengaging ribs mounted respectively on the inner surface of
said outer tubular member and on the outer surface of said inner
tubular member.
4. The instrument of claim 2 including means on said outer tubular
member cooperating with said lug for providing an indication of the
relative angular position of said tubular elements.
5. The instrument of claim 1 including a resilient finger formed in
the body of said inner tubular element and a lug upstanding from
said finger.
6. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said means for restraining
relative motion of said tubular elements in positions of relative
rotation comprises a first longitudinally extending rib resiliently
carried by said inner tubular member and projecting radially
outwardly therefrom, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced
longitudinally extending ribs carried by the outer tubular member
and projecting inwardly therefrom for selective engagement with
said first resiliently carried rib as said tubular elements are
relatively rotated.
7. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said inner tubular element
includes a spring finger formed therein and having a radially
outwardly projecting lug and a radially outwardly projecting
longitudinally extending rib formed on said finger, a
circumferentially extending slot formed in said outer tubular
member for receiving said lug and cooperating therewith to limit
relative rotation of said tubular elements, and at least one
radially inwardly facing groove formed on the inner surface of said
outer tubular member for cooperation with said outwardly projecting
rib to restrain a relative rotation of said tubular elements.
8. A tool holder comprising
an elongated tubular cap having a first tool receiving bore
extending from one end of said cap and centered upon a first tool
axis,
an elongated tubular core mounted within said cap for rotation
relative to the cap about an operating axis, said core having a
second tool receiving bore extending from one end of the core, said
second tool receiving bore being of a diameter substantially equal
to the diameter of said first tool receiving bore and centered upon
a second tool axis,
said first and second tool axes being substantially mutually
aligned and displaced from said operating axis when said cap and
core are in a first angular position of relative rotation about
said operating axis, whereby a tool shank maybe readily inserted
and removed from a position extending within both bores, and
whereby relative rotation of said core and cap to a second angular
position will displace one of said tool axes relative to the other
and cause said first and second tool receiving bores to grip said
tool shank, and
means for releasably retaining said core and cap in said second
angular position, said cap being formed with an enlarged bore
extending from said first tool receiving bore toward the other end
of said cap, said one end of said elongated core being rotatably
received in a forward portion of said enlarged bore of the cap,
said core having a rearward portion rotatably received within the
enlarged bore of said cap at a rear portion thereof to provide a
rotatable support for said core within said cap at both the front
and rearward ends of said cap and core,
said cap and core being formed of electrically non-conductive
material, at least one of said tool receiving bores being defined
by an electrically conductive sleeve, an electrical conductor
connected with said conductive sleeve and extending rearwardly
through said elongated core and
cap, said cap being formed with a circumferentially extending slot
and a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally
extending ribs adjacent said slot, said ribs extending radially
inwardly of said cap, said elongated core being formed with a
spring finger having a radially outwardly projecting lug fixed
thereto and extending into said circumferentially extending slot of
said cap, said finger having a longitudinally extending and
radially outwardly projecting rib formed thereon for cooperation
with said radially inwardly projecting ribs of said cap to provide
a releasable restraint of relative rotation of said core and
cap.
9. A tool holding chuck comprising
a core having a first bore extending into the core from one end
thereof,
a cap having a second bore extending into the cap from one end
thereof and having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter
of said first bore,
means for mounting said cap core for relative rotation about a
first axis,
said first and second bores being centered upon axes displaced from
said first axis and being mutually aligned when said core and cap
are in a release position of relative rotation wherein a tool shank
may be loosely engaged within both of said bores,
means for relatively rotating said core and cap toward a gripping
position whereby said bores are relatively radially displaced from
each other and said tool shank is gripped thereby, means
independent of said bores for limiting relative rotation of said
core and cap through a path of limited length whether or not a tool
shank is inserted in said chuck, and
means for releasably latching the core and cap in any one of a
plurality of position s of relative rotation within said path, said
last named means comprising a plurality of interengaging ribs on
said core and cap, at least one of said ribs being resiliently
mounted.
10. The chuck of claim 9 wherein said means for relatively rotating
said core and cap comprises a portion of the cap forming a first
handle extending rearwardly from said one end thereof to provide a
first surface remote from said tool to be grasped by an operator,
and further comprises a portion of the core forming a second handle
extending rearwardly of said one end thereto to provide a second
surface remote from said tool to be grasped by an operator, whereby
said tool may be readily gripped or released by operation of said
first and second handles at a distance from said tool.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for limiting
relative rotation of said core and cap comprises a
circumferentially extending slot in one of said core and cap and a
lug on the other of said core and cap projecting into said slot.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to surgical instruments and more
particularly concerns an instrument handle for holding
interchangeable tools.
2. Description of Prior Art
In many types of surgical procedures, a slender, elongated blade is
employed, often electrically energized. Blades are of many
different types and configurations for different procedures and
further, different blades at times may be employed in a single
operation. For this reason, among others, it is desirable that the
blades be readily removed and inserted into the instrument handle
and, particularly, that they be securely fastened in placed when in
use.
Although sterilization is available for instruments that are
repeatedly used, it is desirable and preferable, if possible, to
employ devices that are sufficiently simple and inexpensive to
permit use in a single procedure so that the device may be
discarded rather than sterilized for reuse.
Where electrical energization of the instrument blade is employed,
it is necessary that a good electrical contact be made with the
blade. Nevertheless, the instrument body and the user must be fully
and completely insulated from the conductive parts without undue
heating.
A number of surgical pencils of the prior art, such as those shown
in the U.S. Pat. Nos. to Peters (3,494,364), Guiorguiev
(3,035,580), Wappler (1,717,480 and 1,932,258), Marton (2,110,735),
Goode et al (3,597,582), and Miller (3,532,095), employ relatively
complex and expensive instrument bodies, generally too costly to be
disposable. Further, these arrangements embody different types of
tool-holding chucks, such as spring-operated devices, which may
either hold the tool shank too loosely or too tightly, whereby the
tool may be inadvertently detached, or may be too difficult to
remove when desired. The wet gloves often worn by a surgeon make it
even more difficult to exert a firm pull on the smooth shank of
common surgical blades.
Various types of eccentric fastening devices are exemplified by the
U.S. Pat. Nos. to Bochory (3,447,820), the patent to Sharp
(2,677,813), and the several patents to Hixon (2,093,079;
2,159,153; 2,182,896; and 2,264,754). These eccentric connectors
are large and bulky, often requiring a number of different
relatively movable parts. Further, they are not adapted for use
with a surgical instrument.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an
instrument of the type described which eliminates or minimizes
disadvantages common in prior art devices and affords improvements
that allow ready interchangeability of instrument blades in a
simple and inexpensive instrument.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In carrying out principles of the present invention, in accordance
with a preferred embodiment thereof, forward and rear body portions
of a surgical instrument are mounted for relative rotation and
provided respectively with first and second tool receiving bores at
forward ends thereof. The bores are centered upon an axis displaced
from the axis of rotation of the instrument body portions so that
the tool-receiving bores may be aligned with each other when the
body portions are in a release position of relative rotation and
will be relatively misaligned to firmly grasp the shank of a tool
received in both of the bores when the body portions are relatively
rotated to a locked position. The arrangement is such that the
relative rotation may be a one-handed operation with the operator
simply employing his fingers to twist the forward portion relative
to the rear portion held in the same hand. According to another
feature of the invention, a simplified releasable locking means is
provided to insure a firm gripping of the tool shank.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surgical instrument constructed
in accordance with the principles of the present invention;
FIGS. 2 and 3 are longitudinal sections, with parts broken away, of
the instrument shown in FIG. 1, showing the parts in fastened and
release position;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the core,
illustrating the resiliently mounted locking rib;
FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional view taken on lines 5--5 and 6--6 of
FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively;
FIG. 7 is a section taken on line 7--7 of FIG. 2; and
FIGS. 8 and 9 are sections taken on lines 8--8 and 9--9 of FIGS. 5
and 6, respectively.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As illustrated in FIG. 1, an electrical surgical pencil releasably
holds a tool 10 having a blade 12 and a substantially cylindrical
shank 14. The pencil comprises a forward body portion or cap 16 and
a rear body assembly 18 which is mounted to the forward body
portion 16 for rotation relative thereto about an axis
substantially aligned with the longitudinal center line of the
pencil.
The forward body portion 16 comprises a slender elongated outer
tubular element 20 having a first tool receiving bore 22 formed in
the front end thereof and extending inwardly from the front tip 24
of the outer tubular sleeve 20. At a suitable distance from the
front end, a distance of approximately one half inch, for example,
the tool receiving bore 22 terminates and communicates with an
inner enlarged bore 26 which extends rearwardly throughout the
remaining length of the outer tubular element to the rear end 28
thereof.
The rear body assembly 18 is formed of a core or inner tubular
element 30 and a rear sleeve 32 which is secured thereto to provide
a suitable rearward extension of the inner tubular element 30.
Element 30 has a front end 34 which is formed with a cylindrical
outer surface that is rotatably received within the inner enlarged
bore 26 of element 20. The outer peripheral surface of the inner
tubular element 30, at the rearward end thereof as indicated at 36,
also has a substantially cylindrical surface (except for certain
ribs formed therein as will be more particularly described
hereinafter) which rotatably rides within the inner cylindrical
surface of the rearward end of the element 20. Accordingly, the
inner tubular element 30, together with its fixed rearward
extension 32, is firmly and smoothly rotatably mounted to and
within the outer tubular element 20.
Inner element 30 is also formed with a tool receiving bore 38a
extending from the front end therein, which bore is defined by a
metallic sleeve 38 having a flanged front end 40. Flange 40 is
captured between the front end of the inner tubular element 30 and
the shoulder 42 formed by the stepped transition from the tool
receiving bore 22 to the enlarged inner bore 26 of the cap 20.
Sleeve 38 receives and is crimped upon a bared end 44 of an
insulated electrical conductor 46 that extends through the hollow
body of core 30 and through the hollow body of the rear extension
32 for connection to a suitable source of electrical energy (not
shown).
Cap 20 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally
extending grooves 51 formed in its outer surface to facilitate
gripping by the fingers of the user. If desired, rear extension 32
may be similarly formed with longitudinally extending grooves to
facilitate gripping thereof. Conveniently the outer tubular element
or cap 16 is made identical in size and shape to the rear extension
32 except for the formation of certain resilient locking ribs and a
circumferentially extending slot, more particularly described
below, that is formed in the cap 20.
The enlarged inner bore 26 of cap 20 is centered on an axis
substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the entire
instrument. The cylindrical outer surface of the front end 34 of
core 30 is centered upon an axis coaxial with the axis of the
surface of bore 26, so that relative rotation of the cap 20 and
core 30 occur about a single axis of rotation. However, for the
purpose of providing a chuck to insure rapid and positive gripping
of the tool shank 14, when the latter is inserted into the tool
receiving bores 22 and 38a, the bores 22 and 38a are centered upon
an axis that is displaced from the axis of relative rotation of the
cap and core. Bores 22 and 38a are positioned so that in one
position or condition of relative rotation of the cap 20 and core
30, the two bores are mutually aligned. This position of alignment
is illustrated in FIG. 3 and the sections thereof shown in FIGS. 6
and 9. With this mutual alignment of the two tool-receiving bores
22 and 38a, the tool shank 14 is relatively loosely received in
both of the bores since the bores are formed with substantially
mutually equal diameters that are slightly larger than, or at least
will provide a relatively loose fit for, a tool shank of maximum
diameter within the tolerance allowed in the tool manufacture. This
arrangement allows the instrument to be used with tools of
relatively widely varying tolerance. Thus, in this unlocked or
aligned position, illustrated in FIGS. 3, 6 and 9, the tool shank
is readily received within the two bores 22 and 38a and, further,
may be readily removed therefrom, for example, simply by pointing
the tool receiving end of the instrument downwardly and allowing
the tool to drop by virtue of its own weight.
Relative rotation of the cap 20 and core 30 through a relatively
small angle, on the order of 90.degree. or less, moves the parts to
a locked position illustrated in FIGS. 2, 5 and 8. In this locked
position, the relative rotation of the core and cap has moved the
two bores 22 and 38a to positions of mutual misalignment, the
position of bore 38a being indicated in the dotted lines in FIG. 5
and the position of bore 22 being indicated in solid lines in FIG.
5. In this position of relative misalignment, the tool shank 14 is
tightly grasped by the tool receiving bores and pressed firmly into
contact with and over a relatively large area of the electrically
conductive sleeve 38 which defines the bore 38a. This contact
insures not only a secure locking of the tool shank within the
instrument handle, but also insures a good electrical contact with
the shank of the metallic tool.
As best illustrated in FIG. 7, the rear end portion 50 of the cap
20 is formed with a plurality of ribs 52a, b, c, etc., which
project radially inwardly therefrom and collectively define
radially inwardly facing grooves 54a, b, c, etc., therebetween.
Near the rear end 36 of the core 30 (as best seen in FIG. 4) there
is provided a cantilevered resilient finger 56 which is
conveniently formed from the body of the core 30 by means of a
substantially U-shaped slot 58 cut through the core body. Formed
upon the free or cantilevered end of the spring finger 56 is a
radially outwardly projecting detent or rib 60 which has a
longitudinal extent substantially equal to the longitudinal extend
of the ribs 52a, b, c, etc. Also formed upon the spring finger and
projecting radially outwardly therefrom, just forward of the rib
60, is a lug 62 that projects into a circumferentially extending
slot 64 formed in the rear end portion of the core just forward of
the ribs 52 a, b, c, etc.
The resiliently mounted rib 60 cooperates with the ribs 52a, 52b,
52c, to form releasable locking or latching means that will
restrain relative rotation of the cap and core, and which yet may
be readily released by depressing the lug 62 a distance sufficient
to at least partially disengage rib 60 from one of the grooves 54a,
54b, 54c, and thus permit relative rotation of the parts.
Preferably, a visual indicator such as groove 65 provided with a
suitably contrasting color or stripe, is formed on the lug 62 for
cooperation with other indicia such as the printed word "Lock," for
example (not shown), that may be affixed to the rear end portion 50
of the cap 20. These indicia afford a visual indication of the
position or condition of the pencil indicating whether it is in
locked (gripping) or unlocked (release) position. Further, the
locking rib 60 will provide a series of audible clicks and discrete
tactile sensations as the rib 60 rides over successive ones of the
ribs 52a, b, c, etc., during relative rotation. Thus, there is
provided a combination of visual, audible and tactile indications
of the locked or unlocked condition of the instrument which greatly
facilitates proper positioning to insure locked condition of the
surgical tool and also be provide a psychological assurance to the
user.
It will be readily appreciated that the described instrument may be
made of many of many different types of material and by many
different manufacturing techniques. Nevertheless, for those
situations where simplicity, cost and rapidity of manufacture are
desirable goals, as for use in a disposable instrument for example,
the parts are preferably injection molded of a suitable
electrically non-conductive plastic such as Delrin or Lexan for
example. As previously indicated, the cap 20 and the rear extension
32 of the core assembly 18 are made substantially indentical except
for the slot 64 and ribs 52 formed in the cap. Core 30 is also
injection molded, including the resilient finger 56, rib 60 and lug
62 thereof. Further, core 30 is formed with a radially outwardly
projecting circumferential stop 58 to facilitate precise
positioning of the rear extension 32.
The instrument parts are readily assembled by sliding the rear
extension 32 up on the core 30 into firm abuttment with stop 58.
These parts may be suitably bonded to each other as by adhesive or
sonci welding for example. Then the end 44 of conductor 46 is
crimped into the end of sleeve 38 and threaded through body of the
core 30 until the flange 40 of the sleeve 48 bears against the
forward end of the front portion 34 of the core. It may be noted
that the sleeve 38 is a relatively loose fit within the core 34
since it will be retained in place by the capture of its flange 40
between the front end of the core 34 and the shoulder 42 of cap 20.
Now the lug 62 is depressed to move the spring finger 56 radially
inwardly and allow the inner surface of the rear end of cap 20 to
be slid over the front end of the core 30 until the lug 62 is
registered with slot 64. The lug is released and the two parts are
then locked against relative axial motion, although the slot 64 and
lug 62 allow the required amount of relative rotation. Assembly is
now completed and the instrument is ready for use. It will be seen
that the entire apparatus is readily and inexpensively made,
particularly since little precision is required and tolerances may
be relatively large. Resilience of the rearwardly extending
portions of the core 30 where they rotatably engage the inner
surfaces of the rear portions of cap 20 allows significant
tolerances in dimensions of these parts. Further, relatively large
tolerances may be employed in the dimensions of the metallic sleeve
38 and the bore formed in front end 34 of core 30 because of the
nature of the locking operation of eccentric tool receiving bores.
Still further, the eccentric bores allow use of tool shanks with
relatively large tolerances since locking upon a tool shank of
somewhat smaller than nominal diameter requires only a slightly
greater amount of relative angular rotation. Locking upon a tool
shank of somewhat larger than nominal diameter requires a lesser
amount of relative rotation of the core and cap. A wide range of
blade shapes and types may be employed whether or not electrically
energized, including loops, needles and various types of cutting
configurations.
The locking and unlocking of a tool shank is readily performed by
one hand. For example, the rear body portion or core 30 together
with its rear extension 32 may be grasped between the palm of the
hand and the fourth and fifth fingers, while the thumb and
forefinger grasp the forward body portion or cap 20 to achieve a
simple and positive relative rotation between locked and unlocked
positions.
In an exemplary embodiment, the entire instrument, without a blade,
may have a length of between six and seven inches and an overall
outer diamter of a quarter to three-eighths of an inch. Enlarged
inner bore 26 may have a diameter of approximately one-quarter
inch, with the wall thickness of the cap at the enlarged bore being
about one-sixteenth of an inch. Tool shank receiving bores 22 and
38a may have a diameter, depending upon the nominal size of a tool
shank, which is in the order of one-eighth inches. Offset of the
axis upon which the tool receiving bores are centered with respect
to the axis of relative rotation is 0.008 inches in this exemplary
embodiment, and the circumferential extent of the slot 64 is
slightly more than 90.degree. whereby a relative rotation of
approximately 90.degree. is available. It will be readily
understood that the described dimensions are illustrative only
since principles of the invention may be applied to a number of
different configurations and sizes of devices made by other and
different manufacturing techniques.
There has been described an improved, disposable, electro-surgical
pencil formed of few and inexpensively made parts, providing simple
and secure operation for one-handed release and locking of
interchangeable instrument tools.
The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as
given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope
of this invention being limited solely by the appended claims.
* * * * *