Patent ID: 7326198

Claim:
An instrument holder ( 10 ) for surgical use having a remote locking mechanism ( 12 ), the instrument holder having a proximal end ( 14 ) and a distal end ( 16 ), the holder comprising: (a) an elongated shank ( 20 ) equipped, at the distal end, with a head ( 26 ) capable of receiving an instrument ( 24 ); (b) a spring ( 32 ); (c) a substantially cylindrical, elongated locking component ( 28 ) biased in a first direction ( 30 ) toward the head by the spring ( 32 ) and including structures ( 34 ) capable of locking the instrument onto the distal end; and (d) a ring ( 22 ) biased by the spring ( 32 ) in a second direction ( 36 ) against the locking component ( 28 ) towards the proximal end ( 14 ) and constrained to slide longitudinally on the shank ( 20 ), at the proximal end ( 14 ), the ring ( 22 ) having a connection device ( 29 ) which locks the ring to the shank, wherein the ring ( 22 ), spring ( 32 ), locking component ( 28 ) and connection device ( 29 ) make up the remote locking mechanism ( 12 ) and permit releasable connection to the shank such that release of the ring from the shank allows the spring ( 32 ) and locking component ( 28 ) to slide freely off the shank in order to permit cleaning of the instrument holder.