Surgical coupling device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a surgical coupling device for detachably connecting a handpiece to a surgical instrument, the handpiece being provided with a recess into which a coupling portion of the instrument can be detachably slid, an interior wall of the recess having formed thereon a locking recess with which a snap type element can be brought into detachable engagement that is supported on the instrument, characterized in that the snap type element is formed on a double-sided rocker which extends substantially in axial direction and has one end on which the snap type element is arranged and has its other end in engagement with a pivot element.

1 . A surgical coupling device comprising: 
 first and second ends coupled by a body having a longitudinal axis, wherein an opening is formed along a portion of the body to provide access to a body recess within the body, and wherein the first end is sized to enter a coupling recess formed in a handpiece;    an actuator positioned at least partially within the body recess and externally accessible via the opening, wherein the actuator includes a pivot element responsive to pressure applied to an outer surface thereof to pivot the actuator between a locked position and a released position; and    a double-sided rocker having an elevated support located so as to abut an inner surface of the body recess, wherein the elevated support is disposed between a coupling element of the double-sided rocker that is configured to engage a locking recess formed on an interior surface of the coupling recess when the actuator is in the locked position and an actuating element of the double-sided rocker that is configured to engage the actuator, wherein the double-sided rocker is aligned axially with respect to the actuator.    
   
   
       2 . The surgical coupling device of  claim 1  wherein a bevelled surface extends from the elevated support to each of the coupling element and the actuating element.  
   
   
       3 . The surgical coupling device of  claim 1  further comprising an elastic element abutting the actuator to bias the actuator into the locked position.  
   
   
       4 . The surgical coupling device wherein the elastic element is a spring captured in a retention recess formed in the actuator, wherein an end of the retention recess is open to allow the spring to abut the inner surface of the body recess.  
   
   
       5 . The surgical coupling device of  claim 1  wherein the actuating element includes a protrusion and the actuator includes a recess designed to receive the protrusion.  
   
   
       6 . The surgical coupling device of  claim 1  further comprising a securing element moveable between a first position preventing the actuator from moving from the locked position to the released position and a second position allowing the actuator to move from the locked position to the released position.  
   
   
       7 . A surgical instrument comprising: 
 first and second ends coupled by a body having a longitudinal axis, wherein an opening is formed along a portion of the body proximate the first end to provide access to a body recess within the body, and wherein the first end is sized to enter a coupling recess formed in a handpiece;    an actuator positioned at least partially within the body recess and externally accessible via the opening, wherein the actuator includes a pivot element responsive to pressure applied to an outer surface thereof to pivot the actuator between a locked position and a released position; and    a double-sided rocker positioned at least partially within the recess and having a coupling element configured to engage a locking recess formed on an interior surface of the coupling recess when the actuator is in the locked position and an actuating element configured to engage the actuator.    
   
   
       8 . The surgical instrument of  claim 7  wherein the double-sided rocker further comprises an elevated support positioned between the coupling element and the actuating element, wherein the elevated support is positioned to abut an inner surface of the body recess.  
   
   
       9 . A surgical coupling device for detachably connecting a handpiece to a surgical instrument, the handpiece having a recess into which a coupling portion of the surgical instrument can be detachably slid, wherein an interior wall of the recess includes a locking recess formed thereon, the surgical coupling device including a snap type element configured to be brought into detachable engagement with the locking recess, wherein the snap type element is formed on a double-sided rocker that extends substantially in an axial direction and includes a first end on which the snap type element is formed and a second end on which an engagement element is formed for engagement with a pivot element.  
   
   
       10 . The surgical coupling device of  claim 9  wherein the pivot element is pivotable from an inoperative position into a release position.  
   
   
       11 . The surgical coupling device of  claim 10  wherein the pivot element is biased into the inoperative position.  
   
   
       12 . The surgical coupling device of  claim 11  wherein the pivot element is biased by means of an elastic element.  
   
   
       13 . The surgical coupling device of  claim 12  wherein the elastic element is configured in the form of a spring positioned in a recess of the pivot element.  
   
   
       14 . The surgical coupling device of  claim 9  wherein the rocker includes, on a side of the rocker facing a central axis of the coupling device, a support portion that rests on a support surface of the surgical instrument.  
   
   
       15 . The surgical coupling device of  claim 14  wherein a surface of the rocker adjoining the support portion is bevelled at both sides of the support position.  
   
   
       16 . The surgical coupling device of  claim 9  wherein the second end of the rocker includes a protruding form positioned in a recess of the pivot element.  
   
   
       17 . The surgical coupling device of  claim 9  wherein the pivot element includes, on a side of the pivot element facing a central axis of the coupling device, a support portion that rests on a support surface of the surgical instrument.  
   
   
       18 . The surgical coupling device of  claim 17  wherein the pivot element adjoining the support portion is bevelled on at least one side.  
   
   
       19 . The surgical coupling device of  claim 9  wherein the pivot element includes an actuating portion.  
   
   
       20 . The surgical coupling device of  claim 9  wherein the snap type element includes a frontal bevel.