Patent ID: 8840604

Claim:
A surgical aimer, comprising: a shaft including a proximal portion and a distal portion; and a handle coupleable to the proximal portion of the shaft, the handle having a longitudinal axis and an inner wall, the handle including: a first channel configured for disposal of the shaft, the first channel being substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the handle; a second channel configured for disposal of the shaft, the second channel being disposed at a predetermined angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle; and a mechanism for coupling the handle to the shaft and releasing the handle from the shaft, the mechanism being disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis of the handle, the mechanism including: an elongated movable member having an outer surface and an at least partially hollow core, the outer surface of the elongated movable member having a locking portion disposed thereon; an elongated stationary member having an outer surface, the elongated stationary member being partially disposed in the hollow core of the elongated movable member, wherein the elongated movable member is slideably engaged over the elongated stationary member partially disposed in the hollow core; and a resilient member disposed along the outer surface of the elongated stationary member between the elongated movable member and the inner wall of the handle, wherein the elongated movable member is spring-loaded against the elongated stationary member, wherein the resilient member is configured to be movable from an uncompressed state to a compressed state upon sliding movement of the elongated movable member over the elongated stationary member, the locking portion being located in a first position relative to the first and second channels when the resilient member is in the uncompressed state, the locking portion being moved to a second position relative to the first and second channels when the resilient member is moved to the compressed state, and wherein the locking portion is operative, while the shaft is disposed in the first channel and while the shaft is disposed in the second channel, to be engaged with the proximal portion of the shaft when in the first position, thereby coupling the handle to the shaft, and to be disengaged from the proximal portion of the shaft when in the second position, thereby releasing the handle from the shaft.