Patent ID: 9447803
Filing Date: 2016-09-20
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. A quick connect interface for a surgical instrument, comprising: a body having an outer surface, and having an inner surface that defines an inner cavity, the inner cavity shaped to accommodate a generally-cylindrical shaft of a replaceable tool, the inner cavity having a flat portion shaped to engage another flat portion formed by a profile of an end of the shaft; two or more ball bearings positioned radially about a central axis of the body, each ball bearing disposed in a respective hole in the body that extends from the outer surface to the inner surface of the body, wherein there are no ball bearings positioned radially about the central axis opposing the two or more ball bearings; and a sleeve that surrounds a portion of the body and is slideable along the body, from an unlocked position to a locked position, the sleeve including a camming ramp that contacts the two or more ball bearings, the camming ramp arranged to urge the two or more ball bearings to partially extend through the holes into the inner cavity when the sleeve is in the locked position, wherein the two or more ball bearings are positioned to, when the shaft of the replaceable tool is disposed in the inner cavity, urge the shaft more to a side of the inner cavity that includes the flat portion than an opposing side of the inner cavity.