Patent ID: 7641655
Filing Date: 2010-01-05
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A coupling assembly for joining a power source to a medical dissection tool, the coupling assembly comprising: a coupling shaft having a proximal portion, an opposing distal portion, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, wherein the distal portion comprises an external surface and an internal surface, the internal surface defining a bore extending along the longitudinal axis for receiving a portion of the medical dissection tool, a first aperture extending from the external surface to the internal surface along a first axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the first aperture having a first length extending substantially along the longitudinal axis between a proximal wall and a distal wall, the first aperture having a first width extending substantially transverse to both the longitudinal axis and the first axis between a pair of sidewalls, wherein the first length is greater than the first width such that the first aperture is elongated along the longitudinal axis and wherein the proximal wall, distal wall, and pair of sidewalls extend in a direction substantially parallel to the first axis; a first locking member positioned at least partially within the first aperture and translatable along the longitudinal axis with respect to the coupling shaft from an unlocked positioned to a locked position to secure the medical dissection tool within the bore, wherein the first locking member is spaced from the proximal wall of the first aperture and adjacent to the distal wall of the first aperture in the unlocked position and wherein the first locking member is adjacent to the proximal wall of the first aperture and spaced from the distal wall of the first aperture in the locked position; an engagement sleeve disposed around the distal portion of the coupling shaft, the engagement sleeve having an internal contact surface for engagement with the first locking member, the internal contact surface extending at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis; a spring biasing the engagement sleeve towards the proximal portion of the coupling shaft; and an attachment housing disposed around the proximal portion of the coupling shaft for controlling the position of the engagement sleeve relative to the coupling shaft, the attachment housing moveable along the longitudinal axis relative to the coupling shaft by rotation of the attachment housing about the longitudinal axis; wherein the first locking member translates at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis and the first axis when moved between the unlocked and locked positions.