Patent ID: 7976548

Claim:
A surgical tool holder comprising: a) a housing providing a linkage chamber extending from a proximal housing grip end to a distal housing tool end for receiving a tool; b) a tool holder linkage at least partially disposed within the linkage chamber, the tool holder linkage comprising: i) an engagement lever attached to the housing by a proximal pivot pin to thereby provide a first pivotable connection between the engagement lever and the housing at the proximal pivot pin; ii) a locking pawl attached to the housing by a distal pivot pin to thereby provide a second pivotable connection between the locking pawl and the housing at the distal pivot pin; and iii) a connecting rod comprising a proximal connecting rod end connected by a cam-pin to the engagement lever adjacent to the proximal housing end in a third pivotable connection and a distal connecting rod end connected by a pawl pin to the locking pawl adjacent to the distal housing end in a fourth pivotable connection; and c) wherein the engagement lever is manipulatable from a first, opened position spaced a maximum distance along a range of motion from the proximal housing end to a second, closed position spaced at a closer distance along the range of motion relative to the proximal housing end than the first position to thereby cause the connecting rod to move in a distal direction with the distal connecting rod end at the fourth pivotable connection with the locking pawl causing the pawl to pivot with respect to the housing at the second pivotable connection on the distal pivot pin from an open configuration ready to receive a tool for attachment to the housing to a closed configuration engageable with a tool supported at the distal housing tool end.