Patent ID: 11918267
Assignee: DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A  B | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. An apparatus for gripping a cylindrical shaft, comprising:
a housing having an axis and an inner surface with multiple asymmetric cam surfaces, a proximal end comprising a means to rotate the housing, and a distal end having an opening configured to receive the cylindrical shaft,
at least two first gripping members configured to apply a deforming force to the cylindrical shaft, wherein each of the at least two first gripping members comprises:
a spherical gripping member contacting a corresponding one of the asymmetric cam surfaces at a first rest position, and
a coaxial gripping member, the coaxial gripping member being coaxial with the spherical gripping member; and

a first rotatable frame which holds each pair of the at least two first gripping members at a fixed angular orientation relative to each other,
wherein:
the first rotatable frame is biased into a first position relative to the housing where each said spherical gripping member and each said coaxial gripping member contact the corresponding one of the asymmetric cam surfaces at the first rest position;
the first rotatable frame is configured to rotate in a first direction relative to the housing upon insertion of the cylindrical shaft into a space defined by the spherical gripping members so that each of said at least first gripping member moves away from the axis of the housing along a first portion of the corresponding one of the asymmetric cam surfaces; and
after insertion of the cylindrical shaft, the first rotatable frame is configured to rotate in a second direction relative to the housing so as to cause each said spherical gripping member to apply the deforming force by moving toward the axis of the housing along a second portion of the corresponding one of the asymmetric cam surfaces;

the apparatus further comprising a second rotatable frame; and
at least two second cylindrical gripping members held by the second rotatable frame, the at least two second cylindrical gripping members being configured to grip the cylindrical shaft,
wherein each of the at least two second cylindrical gripping members contacts a corresponding one of the asymmetric cam surfaces at a second rest position.