Patent ID: 6062575
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: A61B,A61C,B23B,Y10T

Abstract:
A tool shaft coupler for drivingly coupling a driving shaft with a mating tool shaft which has proximal and distal ends and which is effectively engaged with the driving shaft, the driving shaft being rotatable about a substantially longitudinal axis within a driving shaft housing, the coupler comprising:at least one torque transmission surface fixedly coupled to the driving shaft for axially slidingly mating with a mating tool shaft to transmit torque between the mating tool shaft and the driving shaft;tension transmission means spaced apart from said at least one torque transmission surface and comprising at least one tension transmission surface and at least one movable tension-resisting member, said at least one tension-resisting member being reversibly and slidingly movable to a tension-resisting position to couple the driving shaft and a mating tool shaft to reversibly limit maximum axial movement of the mating tool shaft with respect to the driving shaft under an axial tension load;at least one compression transmission surface fixedly coupled to the driving shaft for substantially limiting maximum axial movement of a mating tool shaft with respect to the driving shaft under an axial compression load;shaft locking means having an engagement surface and being slidably coupled to the driving shaft for reversibly locking said at least one tension-resisting member in a tension-resisting position;attachment means reversibly coupled to the driving shaft housing for guiding and supporting the mating tool shaft, said attachment means comprising at least one spindle cap access slot; andsubstantially toroidal safety lock release means slidably positionable over said attachment means and slidingly engagable through said at least one spindle cap access slot with said engagement surface of said shaft locking means to move said shaft locking means to a first unlocking position for allowing said at least one tension-resisting member to move from said tension-resisting position to allow reversible placement of a mating tool shaft within said shaft locking means, and to allow movement of said shaft locking means to a second locking position for moving said at least one tension-resisting member to said tension-resisting position and for locking said at least one tension-resisting member in said tension-resisting position.