Patent ID: 7291155

Claim:
A system with a surgical needle and a handle, wherein the surgical needle further comprises a distal end terminating in a needle tip and a proximal end having a holding section sized and shaped for insertion into the handle, and wherein the handle has a channel therein extending along a longitudinal axis, the channel being sized and shaped for receiving therein the holding section of the surgical needle, and further comprises a locking device with a locking element, the locking element being movable from a locking position at a first distance along said longitudinal axis to a release position at a second distance along said longitudinal axis, wherein in the locking position the holding section is fixedly secured within the channel, and in the release position the holding section can be removed from the channel, wherein at least a portion of the cross-section of the holding section of the surgical needle deviates from a circular cross-section, and wherein the channel of the handle has a complementary cross-section so as to secure the surgical needle therein against twisting, wherein the holding section of the surgical needle has at least one recess therein, and wherein the locking device further comprises at least one blocking element that engages the at least one recess in the locking position, wherein the blocking element is movable in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the channel, and wherein the locking element prevents movement of the blocking element when in the locking position, and wherein the blocking element includes a ball that projects, when in the locking position into the channel and, when the needle is inserted in the channel, engages in the at least one recess therein, wherein the channel is formed in a metal sleeve having a recess therein for receiving the ball, and wherein the diameter of the ball is greater than a thickness of sleeve wall, and wherein the locking element has a sleeve displaceable in a longitudinal direction of the metal sleeve and surrounding the metal sleeve, and wherein the locking element sleeve has a substantially conical inner surface in the area of the ball that engages the ball when in the locking position, and permits radial movement of the ball when in the release position.