Precision assembleable surgical tool handle

Abstract

A precision adjustable surgical tool holder/driver is provided which is easily disassembled for cleaning and precisely reassembled. The holder/driver has a positionable handle allowing adjustment of the position of the handle about the spindle of the holder to enable the “handedness” of the holder to be changed in order to accommodate a user while operating from the left or right side of the patient, standing behind or in-front of the patient, or for use in different surgical methods. The holder/driver includes a “limited-play” capture mechanism, which connects the drive end of the housing to its locking sleeve via a limited-play locking device. The limited-play locking device utilizes a disengageable, precision fitted bayonet pin and seat combination in part to accomplish the precision reassembly feature of the present invention.

1 . A tool handle, which comprises:
 a) a housing extending along a first longitudinal axis from a proximal housing portion to a housing bend portion deviating from the first longitudinal axis thereof to a distal housing portion, wherein the housing comprises first and second housing parts; and   b) a locking sleeve comprising a sleeve sidewall extending from a proximal sleeve portion having a proximal sleeve end to a distal mouth portion, wherein the locking sleeve encloses the housing from the proximal housing portion to the sleeve mouth portion cradling the housing bend portion to prevent rotation of the first and second housing parts relative to the locking sleeve.   
   
   
       2 . The tool handle of  claim 1  wherein the housing bend portion deviates from the longitudinal axis at an acute angle to the distal housing portion. 
   
   
       3 . The tool handle of  claim 1  wherein a proximal locking ring supported on the locking sleeve has at least one proximal locking ring pin aligned perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis and sized to travel along a locking sleeve bayonet slot provided in the locking sleeve sidewall, wherein with the housing received in the locking sleeve having the sleeve mouth portion cradling the housing bend portion, the proximal locking ring is manipulatable to move the proximal locking ring pin along the locking sleeve bayonet slot to thereby retain the first and second housing parts contacting each other, and wherein the proximal locking ring is manipulatable to cause the proximal locking ring pin to travel in a reverse direction along the locking sleeve bayonet slot to thereby permit axial movement of the locking sleeve with respect to the housing to separate them from each other for subsequent separation of the first and second housing parts from their contact relationship. 
   
   
       4 . The tool handle of  claim 3  wherein the locking sleeve bayonet slot provided through the sleeve sidewall is spaced distally from the proximal sleeve end. 
   
   
       5 . The tool handle of  claim 1  wherein the locking sleeve has two locking sleeve bayonet slots through the sleeve sidewall, the locking sleeve bayonet slots being aligned diametrically opposite each other and wherein the first and second housing parts each comprise proximal housing bayonet slots extending distally from respective proximal ends thereof. 
   
   
       6 . The tool handle of  claim 5  wherein the proximal locking ring has two proximal locking ring pins oriented perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis and aligned diametrically opposite each other and wherein with the locking sleeve enclosing the housing from the proximal housing portion to the sleeve mouth portion cradling the housing bend portion, the proximal locking ring pins are sized to travel along the respective locking sleeve bayonet slots aligned with the proximal housing bayonet slots provided in the respective first and second housing parts so that the proximal locking ring is manipulatable to move the proximal locking ring pins along both the locking sleeve bayonet slots and the proximal housing bayonet slots to retain the first and second housing parts contacting each other.