Surgical tool system with quick release coupling assembly

Abstract

A surgical tool system with a handpiece and a cutting accessory that has inner and outer hubs. The handpiece has a spring biased lock ring that abuts a complementary stop member integral with the accessory outer hub to hold the accessory to the handpiece. An RFID chip is disposed against an inner wall of the accessory outer hub. An elastomeric seal pressed against the inner wall of the accessory outer hub provides environmental protection for the RFID chip. The seal has a rib that extends around the outer perimeter of the proximal end of the outer hub so as to form a seal between the accessory and an adjacent inner wall of the handpiece. Stop tabs extend inwardly from the seal to prevent the drive hub disposed inside the outer hub from falling out.

1 . A powered surgical handpiece assembly comprising:
 a cutting accessory having a proximal end; and   a handpiece comprising:
 a housing having a distal end defining a non-rotatable accessory coupling arrangement, the distal end having an accessory opening dimensioned to receive the proximal end of the cutting accessory, a lock slot contiguous with the accessory opening dimensioned to receive a lock tab that extends outwardly from the proximal end of the cutting accessory, and a groove that intersects the lock slot and opens into the accessory opening; 
 a power generating unit disposed within the housing for actuating the cutting accessory, the power generating unit including a coupling member for transferring power generated by the power generating unit to the cutting accessory; 
 a lock ring fitted in the distal end of the housing so as to surround the accessory opening and the lock slot, the groove accommodating a section of the lock ring that is disposed in the lock slot, wherein the groove and the lock slot each have a depth, the depth of the groove being greater than the depth of the lock slot, the lock ring and the distal end of the housing collectively dimensioned so that when the lock ring is moved to a release state, the lock ring seats in a portion of the groove below the lock slot; 
 a release button integral with the lock ring that is depressed to move the lock ring from a locked state to the release state in which the lock ring is clear of the lock slot; 
 a biasing member disposed between an outer surface of the distal end of the housing and the lock ring or the release button so as to bias the lock ring so that the release button is urged away from the distal end of the housing to hold the lock ring in the locked state wherein a section of the lock ring is disposed in the lock slot; and 
 a cover plate fitted over the lock ring and secured to the distal end of the housing to hold the lock ring thereto. 
   
     
     
         2 . The powered surgical handpiece assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing includes a body and a collet that is attached to an end of the body to define the distal end of the housing.   
     
     
         3 . A powered surgical handpiece assembly comprising:
 a cutting accessory having a proximal end; and   a handpiece comprising:
 a housing having a distal end with an accessory opening dimensioned to receive the proximal end of the cutting accessory and a lock slot continguous with the accessory opening dimensioned to receive a first lock tab that extends outwardly from the proximal end of the cutting accessory, the housing including an auxiliary slot separate from the lock slot that opens into the accessory opening for receiving a second lock tab that extends outwardly from the proximal end of the cutting accessory; 
 a power generating unit disposed within the housing for actuating the cutting accessory, the power generating unit including a coupling member for transferring power generated by the power generating unit to the cutting accessory; 
 a lock ring movably fitted in the distal end of the housing so as to surround the accessory opening and the lock slot; 
 a biasing member disposed between the housing and the lock ring for holding the lock ring in a locked state wherein a section of the lock ring is disposed in the lock slot; and 
 a release button integral with the lock ring that is depressed to move the lock ring from the locked state to a release state in which the lock ring is clear of the lock slot. 
   
     
     
         4 . The powered surgical handpiece assembly of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the lock ring is shaped to define an auxiliary indentation that at least partially subtends an area subtended by the auxiliary slot.   
     
     
         5 . The powered surgical handpiece assembly of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the biasing member extends between an outer surface of the housing and the lock ring or the release button so as to bias the lock ring so that the release button is urged away from the housing; and   a cover plate is fitted over the lock ring and secured to the housing to hold the lock ring to the housing.   
     
     
         6 . The powered surgical handpiece assembly of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the housing includes a body and a collet that is attached to an end of the body to form the distal end of the housing, the collet being formed to define the accessory opening and the lock slot; and   the lock ring is movably secured to the collet and the biasing member extends between the collet and the lock ring.   
     
     
         7 . The powered surgical handpiece assembly of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the power generating unit is a motor, the motor having an output shaft that extends into the accessory opening and the coupling member is integral with the output shaft.   
     
     
         8 . A powered surgical handpiece assembly comprising:
 a cutting accessory having a proximal end; and   a handpiece comprising:
 a housing having a distal end defining a non-rotatable accessory coupling arrangement, the distal end having an accessory opening dimensioned to receive the proximal end of the cutting accessory and a lock slot contiguous with the accessory opening dimensioned to receive a lock tab that extends outwardly from the proximal end of the cutting accessory; 
 a power generating unit disposed within the housing for actuating the cutting accessory, the power generating unit comprising a motor, the motor having an output shaft that extends into the accessory opening, and a coupling member integral with the output shaft for transferring power generated by the power generating unit to the cutting accessory; 
 a lock ring fitted in the distal end of the housing so as to surround the accessory opening and the lock slot; 
 a biasing member disposed between the distal end of the housing and the lock ring for holding the lock ring in a locked state wherein a section of the lock ring is disposed in the lock slot; and 
 a release button integral with the lock ring that is depressed to move the lock ring from the locked state to a release state in which the lock ring is clear of the lock slot. 
   
     
     
         9 . A powered surgical tool assembly comprising:
 a cutting accessory having an outer hub; and   a handpiece comprising:
 a handpiece housing having a distal end and an accessory opening that extends inwardly from the distal end and that is dimensioned to receive the outer hub of the cutting accessory; 
 a collet attached to an end of the housing to form the distal end of the housing, the collet being formed to define a distal section of the accessory opening and a lock slot, the collet comprising: a base disposed in the housing, a head that extends forward from the base and defines the distal end of the housing, and a skirt that extends from the head in surrounding relation with the base and is spaced away therefrom so as to define an annular space around the base; 
 a coil disposed in the collet within the annular space defined by the base and the skirt of the housing; 
 a motor disposed in the handpiece housing, the motor having a rotating output shaft and a coupling member attached to the output shaft for releasably coupling a drive hub of the cutting accessory to the output shaft so that the output shaft and the drive hub rotate in unison; 
 a coupling assembly attached to the handpiece housing for releasably and non-rotably securing the outer hub of the cutting accessory to the handpiece housing, the coupling assembly comprising:
 the lock slot defined in the collet extending longitudinally inwardly from the distal end of the housing and contiguous with the accessory opening, the lock slot being dimensioned to receive a lock tab that extends from an outer surface of the outer hub; 
 a lock ring movably secured to the collet, the lock ring positioned to surround the accessory opening and the lock slot, the lock ring positioned to selectively intersect the lock slot; 
 
 a biasing member extending between the collet and the lock ring for urging the lock ring into a locked state in which a section of the lock ring intersects the lock slot; and 
   a release button integral with the lock ring that is depressed to move the lock ring from the locked state to a release state wherein the lock ring is spaced from the lock slot.   
     
     
         10 . The powered surgical tool assembly of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the handpiece housing is formed with a groove that opens into the accessory opening, the groove being positioned to intersect the lock slot, wherein the groove and the lock slot each have a depth, the depth of the groove being greater than the depth of the lock slot; and   the lock ring and the handpiece housing are collectively dimensioned so that when the lock ring is moved to the release state, the lock ring seats in a portion of the groove below the lock slot.   
     
     
         11 . The powered surgical tool assembly of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the coupling assembly is formed so that the lock slot and the release button are located opposite each other.   
     
     
         12 . A powered surgical tool assembly comprising:
 a cutting accessory having an outer hub;   a handpiece having a distal end and an accessory opening that extends inwardly from the distal end that is dimensioned to receive the outer hub of the cutting accessory;   a motor disposed in the handpiece, the motor having a rotating output shaft and a coupling member attached to the output shaft for releasably coupling a drive hub of the cutting accessory to the output shaft so that the output shaft and the drive hub rotate in unison; and   a coupling assembly attached to the handpiece for releasably holding the outer hub of the cutting accessory to the handpiece, the coupling assembly comprising:
 a lock slot defined in the handpiece that extends longitudinally inwardly from the distal end thereof and that is contiguous with the accessory opening, the lock slot being dimensioned to receive a first lock tab that extends from an outer surface of the outer hub; 
 an auxiliary slot formed in the handpiece and being separate from the lock slot and opening into the accessory opening for receiving a second lock tab that extends outwardly from the outer hub of the cutting accessory; 
 a lock ring mounted to the handpiece, the lock ring being positioned to surround the accessory opening and the lock slot, the lock ring being movably mounted to the handpiece and positioned to selectively intersect the lock slot, the lock ring being shaped to define an auxiliary indentation that at least partially subtends an area subtended by the auxiliary slot; 
 a biasing member disposed between the handpiece and the lock ring for urging the lock ring into a locked state in which a section of the lock ring intersects the lock slot; and 
 a release button integral with the lock ring that is depressed to move the lock ring from the locked state to a release state wherein the lock ring is spaced from the lock slot. 
   
     
     
         13 . The powered surgical tool assembly of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the coupling assembly is formed so that the lock slot and the release button are located opposite each other.   
     
     
         14 . The powered surgical tool assembly of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the handpiece includes a housing and a collet that is attached to an end of the housing to form the distal end thereof, the collet being formed to define a distal section of the accessory opening and the lock slot; and   the lock ring is movably secured to the collet and the biasing member extends between the collet and the lock ring.   
     
     
         15 . A powered surgical handpiece assembly comprising:
 a cutting accessory having a proximal end; and   a handpiece comprising:
 a housing having a distal end with an accessory opening dimensioned to receive the proximal end of the cutting accessory and a lock slot contiguous with the accessory opening dimensioned to receive a lock tab that extends outwardly from the proximal end of the cutting accessory; 
 a power generating unit disposed within the housing for actuating the cutting accessory, the power generating unit including a coupling member for transferring power generated by the power generating unit to the cutting accessory; 
 a lock ring disposed in the distal end of the housing so as to surround the accessory opening and the lock slot; 
 a biasing member disposed between the housing and the lock ring for holding the lock ring in a locked state wherein a section of the lock ring is disposed in the lock slot; and 
 a release button connected to the lock ring that is depressed to move the lock ring from the locked state to a release state in which the lock ring is clear of the lock slot, the lock ring being configured to receive and lock the cutting accessory to the housing without depressing of the release button. 
   
     
     
         16 . The powered surgical handpiece assembly of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the lock ring includes a lip having a tapered face so that contact with a tapered face of the lock tab enables movement of the cutting accessory to overcome a force of the biasing member to enable the handpiece to receive the cutting accessory without depressing of the release button.   
     
     
         17 . The powered surgical handpiece assembly of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the handpiece is formed with a groove that opens into the accessory opening, the groove intersecting the lock slot and being positioned to accommodate the section of the lock ring that is disposed in the lock slot, wherein the groove and the lock slot each have a depth, the depth of the groove being greater than the depth of the lock slot; and   the lock ring and the handpiece are collectively dimensioned so that when the lock ring is moved to the release state, the lock ring seats in a portion of the groove below the lock slot.   
     
     
         18 . The powered surgical handpiece assembly of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the handpiece is further formed to have an auxiliary slot separate from the lock slot that opens into the accessory opening for receiving a second lock tab that extends outwardly from the proximal end of the cutting accessory.   
     
     
         19 . The powered surgical handpiece assembly of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the biasing member extends between a surface of the housing and the lock ring or the release button so as to bias the lock ring and the housing so that the release button is urged away from the housing; and   a cover plate is fitted over the lock ring and secured to the housing to hold the lock ring to the housing.   
     
     
         20 . The powered surgical handpiece assembly of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the housing includes a body and a collet that is attached to an end of the body to form the distal end of the housing, the collet being formed to define the accessory opening and the lock slot; and   the lock ring is movably secured to the collet and the biasing member extends between the collet and the lock ring.   
     
     
         21 . The powered surgical handpiece assembly of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the power generating unit is a motor, the motor having an output shaft that extends into the accessory opening and the coupling member is integral with the output shaft.   
     
     
         22 . A powered surgical handpiece assembly comprising:
 a cutting accessory having a proximal end; and   a handpiece comprising:
 a housing having a distal end with an accessory opening dimensioned to receive the proximal end of the cutting accessory and a lock slot contiguous with the accessory opening dimensioned to receive a first lock tab that extends outwardly from the proximal end of the cutting accessory; 
 a power generating unit disposed within the housing for actuating the cutting accessory, the power generating unit including a coupling member for transferring power generated by the power generating unit to the cutting accessory; 
 a lock ring slidably fitted in the distal end of the housing so as to surround the accessory opening and the lock slot; 
 a release button associated with the lock ring; and 
 a biasing member disposed between an outer face of the housing and the release button to hold the lock ring in a locked state wherein a section of the lock ring is disposed in the lock slot, wherein the release button is depressed to move the lock ring from the locked state to a release state in which the lock ring is clear of the lock slot. 
   
     
     
         23 . The powered surgical handpiece assembly of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the handpiece is formed with a groove that opens into the accessory opening, the groove intersecting the lock slot and being positioned to accommodate the section of the lock ring that is disposed in the lock slot, wherein the groove and the lock slot each have a depth, the depth of the groove being greater than the depth of the lock slot; and   the lock ring and the handpiece are collectively dimensioned so that when the lock ring is moved to the release state, the lock ring seats in a portion of the groove below the lock slot.   
     
     
         24 . The powered surgical handpiece assembly of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the handpiece is further formed to have an auxiliary slot separate from the lock slot that opens into the accessory opening for receiving a second lock tab that extends outwardly from the proximal end of the cutting accessory.   
     
     
         25 . The powered surgical handpiece assembly of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the biasing member urges the release button away from the housing; and   a cover plate is fitted over the lock ring and secured to the housing to hold the lock ring to the housing.   
     
     
         26 . The powered surgical handpiece assembly of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the housing includes a body and a collet that is attached to an end of the body to form the distal end of the housing, the collet being formed to define the accessory opening with the lock slot; and   the lock ring is slidably secured to the collet and the biasing member extends between the collet and the lock ring.   
     
     
         27 . The powered surgical handpiece assembly of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the power generating unit is a motor, the motor having an output shaft that extends into the accessory opening and the coupling member is integral with the output shaft.