Handheld medical device

Abstract

A handheld medical device comprises an internal flow passage that is in axial alignment with an output drive shaft. The drive shaft is powered by a motor assembly that is offset from the internal flow passage and the output drive shaft. The drive shaft and the motor assembly can be connected by a gear train. A collet mechanism can be used to secure a surgical implement to the handheld medical device. A first button assembly and a second button assembly can be positioned on diametrically opposed portions of the handheld medical device.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A medical handpiece having a proximal axial end that is opposite a distal axial end and a top surface that is opposite a bottom surface, the handpiece comprising:
 an elongate housing;   a motor assembly positioned in the housing;   a motor output shaft engaged with the motor assembly, the motor output shaft configured to rotate about a motor output shaft axis;   an internal fluid passage extending alongside the motor assembly;   a handpiece drive shaft mechanically connected with the motor output shaft, the handpiece drive shaft being rotatable about a handpiece drive shaft axis, the handpiece drive shaft axis being offset from the motor output shaft axis;   the handpiece drive shaft comprising a drive shaft fluid passage in fluid communication with the internal fluid passage;   a controller positioned in the housing and configured to control operation of the motor assembly;   a first button assembly configured to send signals to the controller, the first button assembly positioned on the top surface and the distal axial end of the handpiece; and   a second button assembly configured to send signals to the controller, the second button assembly positioned on the bottom surface and the proximal axial end of the handpiece;   whereby the positioning of the first and second button assemblies facilitates multiple hand-holding positions of the handpiece.   
     
     
         3 . The medical handpiece of  claim 2 , wherein the first button assembly comprises a first button and the second button assembly comprises a second button, wherein the first button and the second button are each configured to control, by sending one or more signals to the controller, a function of the motor assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The medical handpiece of  claim 3 , wherein function is powering or depowering the handpiece. 
     
     
         5 . The medical handpiece of  claim 3 , wherein the function is the speed of the motor assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The medical handpiece of  claim 3 , wherein the function is the direction of the motor assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The medical handpiece of  claim 2 , wherein the bottom surface and the proximal axial end of the handpiece further comprises an outwardly extending projection, the second button assembly being positioned in the projection. 
     
     
         8 . The medical handpiece of  claim 7 , wherein the projection terminates in a generally flat end. 
     
     
         9 . The medical handpiece of  claim 8 , wherein the second button assembly is recessed within the projection. 
     
     
         10 . The medical handpiece of  claim 2 , wherein at the proximal axial end, the top surface and the bottom surface are generally parallel with each other. 
     
     
         11 . The medical handpiece of  claim 10 , wherein at the distal axial end, the top surface and the bottom surface are generally non-parallel with each other. 
     
     
         12 . The medical handpiece of  claim 2 , wherein the first button assembly comprises a plurality of buttons aligned generally along an axial axis of the handpiece. 
     
     
         13 . A surgical handpiece comprising an axial axis and a radial axis, the handpiece comprising:
 an housing elongated along the axial axis and having a rounded cross-sectional shape, the housing comprising:
 a proximal portion at an axial end of the handpiece; 
 a distal portion at an opposite axial end of the handpiece; 
 the proximal portion comprising a proximal upper surface and a proximal lower surface; and 
 the distal portion comprising a distal upper surface and a distal lower surface; 
 a motor assembly positioned in the housing; 
 a motor output shaft engaged with the motor assembly, the motor output shaft configured to rotate about a motor output shaft axis; 
 a handpiece drive shaft connected with the motor output shaft, the handpiece drive shaft being rotatable about a handpiece drive shaft axis; 
 a flow control lever that controls the flow of fluid through a passage in the housing; 
 a projection that extends radially outward from the proximal lower surface of the proximal portion of the housing, the projection terminating in a generally flat end; and 
 a proximal button assembly positioned in the projection; 
 wherein, when the handpiece is positioned on a planar surface with the generally flat end of the projection and the distal lower surface of the housing or the flow control lever engaged with the planar surface:
 the generally flat end of the projection cooperates with the distal lower surface of the housing or the flow control lever to support the handpiece, and 
 the generally flat end of the projection inhibits the handpiece from tipping-over on the planar surface. 
 
   
     
     
         14 . The surgical handpiece of  claim 13 , wherein the distal lower surface of the housing and the proximal lower surface of the housing are offset from each other. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical handpiece of  claim 13 , wherein the projection further comprises a cover plate. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical handpiece of  claim 13 , wherein the projection further comprises a passage that extends into an internal portion of the handpiece. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical handpiece of  claim 13 , further comprising a controller in electrical communication with the proximal button assembly, the controller configured to control operation of the motor assembly based on a signal received from the proximal button assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical handpiece of  claim 17 , further comprising a distal button assembly located in the distal portion of the housing and diametrically opposite of the proximal button assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical handpiece of  claim 18 , wherein the controller is further in electrical communication with the distal button assembly, the controller being further configured to control operation of the motor assembly based on a signal received from the distal button assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical handpiece of  claim 13 , wherein the handpiece drive shaft axis and the motor output shaft axis are offset. 
     
     
         21 . The surgical handpiece of  claim 13 , wherein the distal lower surface of the housing is generally flat. 
     
     
         22 . The surgical handpiece of  claim 13 , wherein the flow controller is movable between a first position and a second position, the passage in the housing being open when the flow controller is in the first position, and the passage in the housing being closed when the flow controller is in the second position. 
     
     
         23 . The surgical handpiece of  claim 22 , wherein the flow controller is oriented toward a proximal end of the handpiece in the first position. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical handpiece of  claim 13 , wherein the generally flat end comprises a planar end.