Patent ID: 7988692

Claim:
A surgical tool holder adapted to connect to a surgical tool, the tool holder comprising: a) a center rod comprising a linear axis extending from a first, proximal shank end to a second, distal tool end; b) a tracking groove extending along a surface of the center rod parallel to the linear axis from a first groove end adjacent to the tool end to a second groove end proximate from the tool end, the tracking groove communicating with a release slot provided in the surface of the center rod at an intermediate location between the first and second groove ends; c) a tool interface comprising at least one transverse projection extending radially outwardly in a fixed manner beyond a diameter of the center rod proximate the distal tool end; d) a ram disposed proximate the distal tool end and comprising a ram bore receiving the center rod in a movable relationship therewith, wherein the ram comprises a first ram end from which at least one engagement finger projects parallel to the linear axis of the center rod, and an opposite, second ram end, wherein a locking pin supported by the ram projects into the ram bore and is movable along the tracking groove of the center rod; e) of a collar having a collar bore through which the center rod movably passes, the collar having a bias face at a distal collar end, wherein a guide pin supported by the collar projects into the collar bore and is movable along the tracking groove and the release slot of the center rod; and f) a biasing means positioned between the collar and the ram in a movable relationship about the center rod, the biasing means having a first bias end that is contactable by the ram and a second bias end contactable by the bias face of the collar, g) wherein the ram supported by the center rod and a surgical tool are relatively manipulatable to move the transverse projection into a locked relationship with a second slot of the surgical tool with the engagement finger blocking rotational movement of the surgical tool with respect to the tool holder, and wherein the collar is manipulatable along the center rod against the biasing means to align the guide pin with the release slot and then to move the guide pin into a locked relationship with the release slot of the center rod with the biasing means providing a biasing force against the ram preventing the transverse projection and the engagement finger from releasing from the surgical tool thereby locked to the connected tool holder, and h) wherein the collar is manipulatable to remove the guide pin from the release slot and then to move the guide pin along the center rod to relax the biasing means against the ram so that the ram supported on the center rod and the surgical tool are relatively manipulatable to move the engagement finger out of the second slot and to move the transverse projection out of the blocking relationship with the surgical tool thereby being separable from the tool holder.