CA2234195A1

CA2234195A1 - Surgical instrument handpiece and system

Info

Publication number: CA2234195A1
Application number: CA002234195A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Douglas D. Sjostrom; Peter M. Cesarini; Paul A. Torrie; Graham Smith; Steven Ek
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Smith and Nephew Inc
Priority date: 1995-10-31
Filing date: 1996-10-31
Publication date: 1997-05-09
Also published as: JP2000507840A; ES2214554T3; ATE257673T1; US6328752B1; EP0866674A4; WO1997016124A1; JP4495715B2; DE69631340T2; ZA969123B; US6090122A; BR9611423A; EP0866674B1; AU7553096A; DE29623825U1; US5871493A; AU714686B2; DE866674T1; JP2007105485A; DE69631340D1; AR004252A1

Abstract

A surgical apparatus (100) includes a body (300) configured for insertion into a bore of a surgical handpiece and a latch (315) that includes a resilient member (335) connected to the body. The resilient member has a latching structure (340) configured to latchingly engage a surface of the surgical handpiece within the bore.

Description

W O 97/16124 PCT~US96/17644-CIIRGICALINSTRII~F~T HANQ.~ A~n SY5TF M

A surgical system may include a ,.~turi~c~ l,a.,~ in 5 which may be inserted a variety o~ surgical clevices having d~r~n .-t fu..~Li~,.s and o~bcrdLill~,~ pa-~ t~l~. Typically, a surgical device is eng..gcd in a bore of a h~ndpi by i-~tera~_lion of spnn~3-load~d ball locks in the bore with a groove around a cir~u..~r,=,e,,.,c of the surgic~l device. l ypicaliy, the ball locks are rclld~ by 10 manipulating a collar around the exterior of the ~.and~ '~r~ to permit i. .se. ti~,. . or removal of the surgical device.

AJat,l~.s may also be _..-, ' ~ed to permitsurgical devices that are not configured for use with a particular hd~ . to be 15 used with that han-1~.ifc-~. fore~d.., ' ~j _t,u,.., U.S. Patent No.
4,705,038, describes a ~ ~d~e~l handpiece that c,~.atês a set of dirre.~..t surçlical devices. SjOal~ l'a system includes ~ .s that permit surgical d_~i~s having differenUy sized hubs to be used in conjunction with a single han~ .c~ Each aJ3,~ter ir-cl~d~s a fir t 20 end configured for u..!ta~_n.ent with the t~.z.~ nd a s~..d end configured for ~ 9 ,..c.-l with one or more surgical dcv;.~s.

There is a g-~"~.al need in the art to make the lIlell , ~l~tion of surgical hand~: and instruments received therein. as easy and 25 trouble free as ~,. s ~' l~ and it is an object of the ~rcsent invention to meet this need.

In accor~an e with the pr~_.lt invention, there is provided an apparatus CO.~ i,.g a body configured for ;ns~ ." into a bore of a 30 surgical hanrlpi~c~, and a latch c~r~ sin9 a ~ - It Illel~lber co..,.__t.d to ~aid body and having a Idtcl~ structure configured to W O 97/16124 PCTAUS96/17644 ~

lat~l .i"~ly e, .~age a surFace of the surgical h~. ~F ioce within the bore.

In one ~spect. generally, the invention features an ~ ldL~ls 5 that includes a body configured for i,~sei lio., into a t)ore o~ a surgical l,~r, Ipie :e and a latch. The latch includes a IE~-';e l~ ..,e...L.er c~..".~:.,led to the body and having a k.lc~....g structure conflgured to , hl n~31y e~u~y.: a surface of the surgical I.... l 1~ ieCC~ within the bore.
The invention provides CGI l~ .l ad~antages over the prior art In particular, the body of the appd~ JS rllay be e"~a~l with and ~rlFA~eFIl from the surgical hdl ~ without manipulating the ha,~ '~.. ~e. As a result, the ha~ ie-~ does not need to include any 15 moving parts for eu~~~,c.. ._, .L with sursical devices or other instruments C..~t,u.l;..,ents may include one or rnor~3 of the ~ y ~eatures. The re~ t l.,~ L- r may be a .,c,.,lil._~ered arm and may 20 be configured to radially deflect during in~ ", into the bore of the h~ F - ~~ and to retum ~rom the radial ~- ';_, to permit the 5~h,1~ structure to Idl~ ly ~:n gaga the surface of the surgical e within the bore. The latch rnay also include a user-manipu' ' l~ r~ s~ portion mounted on ths canb' ~_.~1 arm, and 2~; the cantllevered aml may be configured to ~ 1ua'~y defiect in or.~e to pressure on the leiaa~e portion to dic._. .y~e the l~lcl .;. ~y structure from the surfac~ of the surgical ha. . ~ .r: ~ within the bore. This ~"..it~ the a~J~d~ us to be rel~s~l from the surgical h~r~ e with little effort. The lutol.it~g structure may be 30 ~,osilic",~ J~ t to the (_lea_e portion or may be 5F'-~--~ J from the release portion along a longitudinal axis of the body.

The body in~ s a ~rUA~ aI end for insertion into the bore.
The latching structure rnay include a leading edge that is ramped in a dile~Li~ frorn the ~uru~i."~l end of the body toward a distal end of the ~ody and a l~lc l.i.lg surFaoe oriented transversely to a longitudinal axis of the body. The l..l~hill~ surface may also include a trailing edge at a distal end of the latching structure. This trailins~
edge may be angled toward the distal end of the bo~y in a ra~ilial di~e~ liGII from the body.

10The body may also include a tab that ~a~ J~ radially from an e~edor surface of the boty and is posiLio..e ~ to en~age an opening in the han~p-~c~ The tab i~ positiGned distally of the ~ ~~_ portion. The body may be forrned from a single piece of i. Ije ~
molded plastic and may mclude a ring structure that carries the 15 cantilevered arrn and is secured to the body so that the arrn ~:A.lends i....,lly to and a~ r~ht to an c~t~..ior surFace of the body. The ring structure may be joined to a distal end of the body by a snap fit The body may be configured as a hub of a surgical 20 instrument. When the body is configured as a hub. the surgical instrument may also include an outer ,Il~l.Ler conne~1ed to and ~L~..ding from the body to a tissue ~e~ ;..g Gpe.l 1~3 at a distal end of the outer l~lelllber. an inner ."e..lL,er ~,o~iti~l.eJ in the outer el and including at ~ts distal end a surgical tool to cut tissue, 25 and a drive ~ha~t c~ t. l to the inner, . -e-, lL,_r for r~ tc.liny the inner n ,_hlL_I relative to t~ e outer "~ell~L~el The body may car~ a ".a~r,~:t that is ~e~Ded when the appc.,~ s is il~se.L~cl into the bore of the surgical 1, . ~JPI~ ~

30The body may also be configured as an -~ ,-l~r for il Iten,O~ Ir,l:~ti. I9 a hub of a surgical instrument to the l .a., Ir e~

The adz~rt~r includes a ,~ruAillldl end ~or i..se,lion into the bore of the handpiece and a distal end configured for atld~ l 11 to the hub of the surgical instrument.

The d~dldlus may be a co.,.~.~n~nt of a surgical device that also includes a han~ri~ . The ha-- ~ has a bore at its distal end for i, .se. I~on of the body of the apparatus and an annular flange lo~ within the bore to lc.L-,l.i..slly e.~ yc the la~cl~;.,y structure when the body i5 iU..._. Lc.J into the bore, The annular flange rnay 10 include a ~ dl I I~ edge at an end dosest to the distal end of the E ,~ and, at ~n end furthest from the distal end of the han~pioce, an edge that is angled toward the distal ~nd of the in a radial Ji.~:~.li.,n from a lonoit-- '' .al axis of the bore (i.e., a back-cut edge). ~he 1.... 1,: ~ may EIISo include a slot and 15 an ~ L. ,in~ at its distal end, A user-marir~ ~' ' ' ,_leas~ portion of the latch ifi in- e. t.l into the 31ct when the body is i. ~5c~l~llnto the bore A tab that ext_nds radially from an c~ r surface of the hody and is F,ositioned distally of the r~lease portion may be inserted into the ~ when the tlody is il 15CI Led into the bore.
In another --r~ r._.~ , the inve..li.... ~eatures an apparatus that includes a body configured for iI._e.Li.,r, into a bore of a surgical I n 1~ , a latch and a tab. The latch includes a ll ll,c.l~b~t connected to the body and having a 61~1lL-y 25 structure configured to Id~l.il-~ ag~3 a su~face of the ~;urglcal handpiece within the bore. The latch also includes a user-manirn'~ Ica~e portion mounted on the resilient " -e ~ er. The tFtb exten~ radial~y from an osh.ior sur~ace of the body 30 ~.uL~,dl,.. ~nts may include one or more o~the f~atures noted above -W O 97/16124 PCT~US96/17644-ln another s~spect, generally, the imr~..liur features an ~ apparatus that includes a body configured for inse, Lion into a bore of a surgical hanJ~:e~ and a latch that includes a ,~il;ant 5 cantilevered arrn ccinne~_led to the body and having a l~ in~
structure configured to lat~,l ,ingly en!aaye a surface of the surgical han ~ ~ c ~ within the bore and a user-marip~ lea~,~ portion mounted on the cantilevered arm. The .1 ~l cantilevered arrn is configured to radially deflect during i, ~sel Li;~ I into the bore of the hd~ _ and to return from the radial deflection to perrnit the Idt~ J atructure to hl~ e,.~aye the surface of the surgical hal l ~r ie~ within the bore, and to raidially deflect in re:~pc.nse to pressure on the ~ se portion so as to d;Del~9dYe the l~
~tructure from the surface of the surgical I ,audph~ within the bore.
C...' ~ , may include one or more of the features noted above.

In ~ II.er acr~t yell~l 'ly, the invention features a surgicsl 20 device that includes a l.and~ having a bore at its distal end and an al,~... c~lU8 that includes a body configured for ;~la~5l li~l. into the bore of the h~ ;e ..e . The app~rc.hls also inciudes a latch having a r~ ~ '~~ 11. nl_,llLer ~,~nne~ d to the body and having a Idh,l~ y structure configured to Llchi,.,Jly engz~a a surface of the 1..," ~lp 2~i within the ~ore.

AJi~i;libnal ell~L~Ji.ll~.lla may include one or more of the foil ~i"y features. When the ~ dtUs iS confiç~ured as a sur~ical instrument having a drive shaft, the drive shaft may have sn 30 e~lel lsic r, that includes a drill tip configuration with sloped, canted edges at a l,ro~ l end of the drill tip configuration for enga~e"-e..l with the drive shaft of the motor.

In yet another ~srect ye~ lly the invention ~eatures a 5 surgical device that includes a h~ having at its distal end a bore a l~.ess~d portion on the ~ ri~.r su~face that includes a ~lot, an annular f7an~e lo~-~tQ~I wit~in the bore, and an op_..."y. I he sur~ical device also includes a surgical instmment that has a body configured ~or i"~ iLi~ into the bore a Idl.h;.l~ h~r.i_.., ~llt.._l.ed 10 to the body and con~igured to IdlC,hi~l~ly C.l~yt! with the annular flange to secure the ~urgical instrument to the h~n '~ -_ in an axial tion and a tab configured to en~aye with the o~,_.,;..~J to secute the surgical instrument to the han ', i in a circu.,.f~r~,llial Ji. ~_li~. ..
~ \d~ - Idl e. ,.bG.li."e, .ts may include one or mor6~ of the folloJ~ ;n!J features. The annular flange may be ~05i~vne~ ~. o,~i. ".,lly of a ~r~...al end of th~ slot of the ,~ .I portion The lall h;"~3 ci~a"i:.r.. may include a latçh and a user-,..d- -- ' ' ,Je~3se ZO portion configured to mDve the latch from an Lngayi"~ siliul- in which the latch enyag6-~ the annular nange to a non-er,~,.yi..~
rc~Yiti~n in which the latch is ~ . ,yaç,~ed from the annular flange when the ._lease pottion is de:~sr~sseJ The lat~hi.~ mechanism may also Jnclude a cantilevered arrn that i5radially ~ rom an 2~ eat~rior surface of the body, and on which the u~er~
ea5e portion is mounted. A sprin~-loaded plunger may be (r~ b_tY e_. ~ the latch and the user rnanir~ llahl~ r~ l.ase portion In ~-J~ ;nn. the slot of the .e~s~se~l portion may have a flared c.~..;..y at its distal end WO 97/16124 PCT~US96/17644-In yet another s~rect. g~nGrdlly, the invention ~eatures a surgical ha"d~ e_f having a ~n~Ai~dl end and a distal end. At its distal end, the l,c~l dp ~ ~ ~ includes a bore configured for r~ ,n of a body of a surgical ~ lus, a rec~sse~l portion on the e~lt ,ior surfacs that includes a slotfor ~c~pli~," of a uE~er-manipulable r~ledse button o~ the surgical a,~ t a-at-Js. an annular flange loc~
within the bore and configured to id~ in~l~ eny~ge ~ h a latching structure of the surgical -pp~.at-Js to secure the surQic;~ ald~ S
within the bore in a ~ lio~ S~GnCJi.~y to a longitudinal axis o~
10 the bore, and an o~en;l-~ configured to engage a tab of the surgical al,~,arc.lLls to secure the surgical a,",ttre.~ ithin the bore in a circlJrl ~r~r~- ,lial di. e~,Li~

tinnal el.lLod;.-..~ may include one or moQ of the 15 rullo~ features The annular flange may be loc- t -~ at a ~o~ n in ~he bore con ~ ,. .di. ~y to the slot of the, -- ~ssed portion and may include a gap ~ olle~ ld;n~ to the slot Altematively, the annular flange may be IG~_t~ d at a pc~siLi~,n in the bores that is pro~i" ,al to the slot o~ the r~-,~ ,s~.~ portion In yet .~tl.er ~sp~ aer.~ ,, the invention features a surgical instrument that includes a body conhgured ~or insertion into a bore of a l.a~.-J~i~ce, a la~ le-,h~n;s--~ and a tab. The latchi...a ~--ech~ ~ 1l includes a latch and a user-manir~ 'e rL,lea6e 25 portion. The re~lr.a~E portion is configured to move the latch radially be~_an a first F,-,silion in which the latch e~ 2 ~ a surFace within the bore of the hdll 1~ ' and a ~ecGnd ro~ition in which the latch is di~"yage. from a surface wHhin thê bore of the I,a.. 1l e e when the ,~I- e button i8 d_, ,essed. The tab e~ Js r '~ '~y from an 30 exte~ ior sufrace of the body and is positioned distally of a la~l~ase portion of the Id._h,"g ., .~ .ani_, . ..

W O 97/16124 PCTAUS96tl7644-Embodi~ may include one or more of the features noted above.

In yet ~ ll-cr ~C¢c~ gen~ lly the invention featur~s a surgical instrument that includes a body ~icpose~i along an axis.
The body is confgured to be l_ce.i.,red ~n a bore o~ a surgical h ~ e-e. At least 8 portion of the body includes a ~cl" .p~d leading sur~ace configured to be advanced past a l~t_l ,i, .~ surface within the bore while the body i~ being ir~selll3d into the bore and an en~a,~_..,e.,l surface o,;_..t~_J transversely with ,~ L to the axi~ of the body and configured to ~y~ ~e the Idl. h;..g surface when the body is Full~ inserted into the bore. The surgical inctrument also includes a .~ e;ohari~ for d;~ a ~i.-g the e..~ L
15 surface ~rom the k-l~l ,i, ~y surface to allow the body to be will ..i.
from the bore.

Embodiments may indude one or more of the featur~s noted above In a further ~sp~t there is ~rovided a sur~3ical ~s~.ul~ly comprising the ~ ald~us as l._r~ i..bcru.c, d~sc,iL~l lu~ U~ rwith a surgical I Idl ~

In a.. ~Jtl.er e~ the~re is also ~,.. ,~r;Je~ a sur~ical instrument c~ a the ~,c.pc.re-tus as h er~ Lcru~ dcs_-iLe l and further CG~pri~;r~

an outer ,..~".b_r cor...~:. ~d to and eal_r.Ji.,!~ from said body 30 to a tis~iue recelving opening at a distal end of outer ~..a,.~Ler, W O 97/16124 PCTrUS96/17644 -an inner ."e,.,ber including at a distal end thereof a surgical tool to cut tissue, said inner ".e-~,ber being posiLiu..e~ within said outer rrlclll6er and being .u' ' L ' relative to said olJter ..-e-~.ber, and a drive shaft ~.u-~nel,1ed to said inner n,e.. ~L_r for ro~ .. y said inner member, and a surgical I Idlld~

In further ~5p~ of the present invention, there is provided the surgical instrurnent as her~in~_f~re ~esu~ ecl in kit form.

Other features and ad~ a, ~lc-!3~s will t,ecc" rle a"~clrtnt from the f~ J;~y des~;dplion of the ~ f~.,~d elllL~,J;Ille~ , induding the~
drawin~3s, and from the claims.
Rrief neS~ of the nrzlwinas Fig. 1 is a ~el;,,ue~ e view of a suryical har l, i~ce Fig. 2 is a block Ji~yld~ll of a surgical system ineludin~ the I Idl 1' Ip-Q~e of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3A is a side cross sectional view of a surgical har~Fi?ce.
Fig. 3E~ is an ~-.ldrye.l portion of the cross je~ ,.al view o~
Fig 3A.
Fig. 4A is an ~., 'oie ' top ~ a~e~,Li~e Yie~ of a ~l~a~elic ~ ~it.,l....g ~'~ ..entofthe h~r,~ ;3cs of Fig. 1 Fig, 4B is a bottom perspective view of the Illc.yn~ti~
switching olun .e.~t of Fiça 4A
Fig 4C is a cross sectional view of an altE~mative rllagllel;~
s~il-,l,;..y ~l~..._..l.
Fig. 4D is a cross se~.li..,.al view of the ll~dy~lelic jJdt~ y 30 ele., .e"t of Fig. 4A in a de,.,re~sed position CA 02234l95 l998-04-28 W O 97/16124 PCT~US96/17644-Fig. 5A is a top vie~ of a circuit board of the ha, I ', . _c~ of Fig.
1.
Fig. 5B is an end view of the circuit board of Fig. 5A.
Fig. 6A is a pe,~,oe~ e view of a surgical instn~ment 5 confiyured for dUd~ ll to the ha~ 'p . --. of Fig. 1.
Fig. 6B is a pe.a~e~ e view of a hub and drive shaft of the surgical instrument of Fig. 6A.
Fig. 6C is a side view of the hub and drive shaft of Fig. 6B.
Fig. 7A is a cross 5e~,liO~ .al side view of an inte, rc.~,e ~e~vJocn 10 the l ,an.l~ of Fig. 1 and the hub and drive shaft of Figs. 6A~C, taken at the longitudinal axis of the h~ c~
Fig. 7B is a cross sec;tiG,.al side view of the ;"t.,r~c~ of Fig.
7A, offset from the longitudmal axis of the ~.c.r l, Figs. 8A-8D are fi~ ,L~ al " 3 c~ ofthe l..k,l iny 15 ,.,_cl,~...~ s ofthe iil~.F~__e of Fig. 7A.
Fig 9A is a side view of an all~r-,dti~/e Idlch;~y ~ c.nis~
Fig. 9B is a top view of an end of a ~.ar. i~ c~ configured for ;.,~r~-_li.,., with the lc~k,l~ .~y lll~ ld~ of Fig. ~A.
Fig. 9C is a s~s.,l;.,. Ial view of the h..~ - end of Fig. 9B
taken along se-liof) 9C-9C.
Fig. 9D-9H are side and top vie~s of other dlLe~ldli.~e lalc;l.iy IllC~ildl-i_.ll -, Figs. 10A-10C are ,~ e and plan views of an alt~, . ~dlive Idk,l ~ y ., ~~,1 ~ani_ Figs. 1 1A and 1 1 a are p~.:,p~ e views of an all~. . ,~.Li ~e Fi~. 12 is a sicle VieW of an ~ r including the I
mechanism of Figs. 6A~C.

W O 97/16124 PCTrUS96/17644-_Wlth ~ e to Figs. 1 and Z, a IllOtOli~ed, r~us~'e surgical han~ipi~ 100 (Fi~. 1) is configured to operdte a variety of disposalJle (or reus-~ le) surgical instruments. The han ', ~~e has a generally cy~ rical shape, with a te~ up-shaped cross section~
5 and in~ d~s a housing 105 made from a non-rna3netic materia such as aluminum At its distal end, the h~"J~i_oe includes a cyli., 1ri.,al bore 1 10 for ~IIc..,l .. n~l ~t of a surgical instrument ~Ithin the ~ore 110 is a drNe shaft 115 that i~ co~rl-d to a motor 120 I~OS;liuned within the handpieoe 100. The l.d.,d~,iec~ includes 10 pushbutton swit.,l.__ 12!5, 1~0 and 135 that produce signals for use in co.,l~ y the motor 120. The hand~,.ece 100, includin~ the pushbutton _. it~,es 125, 130 and 135, is fully autoclavable.

The handpiece 100 is e~ ed in a surgical system 200 that 15 includes the l.~ . a co.. s-' ~ 205, a surgical instrument 300 (or a set of surgical instnuments), and a foot control asse.,lL,ly 210. A
pl~,.~SSOr 215 F c - ' r.cd within the c~u 1 205 ~,~ntlùls the operating speed and ~ Li~,r, of the motor 120 o~ the I ,an lF
100 This, in turn, co,ll,ul~ the Gp~.ating speed and dile.,liOI. of the 20 surgical instnument 300. For ox~", ', wh~3n the surgical instrument 300 indudes an active portion 305 (such ~s a cutting hlade or an ~b,~din5~ burr) that rotates about the lons~itudinal axis 140 of the l ,a" 1~ iece 100, the p,.,.__ ~sor 215 co.l~-~l9 the dile~,liO~ and speed at which the E~ctive portion 305 rotates.
The p~ essor 215 cu,,lluL the motor 120 in rt~onse to signals from the pushbutton S'h';- hes 125, 130 and 135, the cc:nsc!e 20~1 and the ~oot control ass~l.,Wy 210. In ~dition, as ~iscussec below, the h~ IpiQC'~ 1OO provides the proc~ssor 215 with 30 illrulllldliG~I indic~tive of the instrument type of the surgical instrument ~ in the l.an~ ic~ce. The har. 1~ 100 is W O 97/16124 PCT~US96/17644 connected to the console 205 by a cable 145 that is dlla~:l,ed to the plUAi~ i end of the h.t~.d~.:ece by a lhr~..l.~ co.,r,~=~.l.,. 146.

In s~ in" to the pu, -~so 215, the co-,_-1e 20~ includes a power switch 220 for activating or deactivabng the system, and buttons to i. .~ se (225) or d ~edS~ ~230) the speed of the I~a~ e motor 120. To display i"r~r.l...li~.., the CGI._-' includes a SjA~en Ci-Id~d~ r fluL -e~sc~ display 235 for ~ o~l;c ,I,~C5~ ~ 5, digital displays of the motor speed (240) and the pe~ aiL le range for the rnotor speed (24~, 250), and a bar graph dispiay 25~ of the motor speed within the ~611-~- ''' range. The foot control ..s~ Lly 210 is aLLd.,h~d to the cons-l 205 through a cabls 260 and i~ .Illit~ an operatorto select ' et~e.- rur~ l, reverse and os~ modes of operaffon for the motor 120 of the h~ll 1, ~ 100.
Alll:r-.d~ ely, the foot control a3sc,uLly can be used to control the ~osition of an ~J~,erc.li-~e portion of the surgical instrument.

R~:r.=r, in.J also to Figs. 3A and 3EI, the three pushbutton ~Jit.~ 12S, 130 and 135 are dll.,CI~ed to the ~ rii~r of the housing 105 and are physically il301~ from the Lle~ ;C circuitry ~C50~ 1 with the _~it~,l .e~ by a wall of the housing. This iso' li~n ensures that the ~wit~,hes do not provide a k ~'~~ ~ path to the cle ~ ies and thereby ensures that the l,~"d~ r~ 100 and the _hrit.,i~s 125, 130 and 135 are ?~t~ vable. In S~Jib-o~. no sepalate seal is requi~ed to isolate the ~;t~,l.es from the circuitr~.
The ~wit.,l.es, which are round and identically ~ized, are h~ d near the distal end of the ha~d,~ ?ce 100 and are dlldny~l in a triangular configuration. Fewer or more switch~s (e.çl.. two or four s~ it~,l-es) could be used and the switches could be a-,~.n!J~ in a 30 dirrt .t ..L configuration.

W O 97/16124 PCTrUS96/17644-A~; already discusse~, the ~ ~rit~llea 125, 130 and 135 provide signals to the prncessor 215 through cable 145, and the prncessor Z15 uses the control signals to control the motor 120 in the har~lr 100. The fu... 1i~.1s of the ~it. 1~--5 need not be ~Yrli~-ffly defined and may be configured b~ p~ocJrd~ the p~ocess-~r 215 For exd.~ switch 125 may cause the ~rc-cesso, 215 to control the motor 120 to cycle throuç~h forward reYerse and ~s-~ t - modes of ~peldtioll~ while switch 130 causes the p,~ essor to cycle the motor through a circular range of Sr~e~l~ and switch 135 ~5ln ~ ~ the 10 ~roce:,sor to activate or deactivate the motor.

Inctn~ rconfiguration the s ~it~l.e5~ relycausethe proc~Cc~r to control the motor to Gpel~te in a forward mode (switch 125) a reverse mode (s~vitch 130) or an G~;'. ;il ~e mode (switch 15 135) In this all~l"c.li~e configuration pre~sing any one of the ~it~ activates the motor and ca~lc~5 the motor to operdte in the CGI I eSI~Jndil ~.J mode. Th-~ nt . pressing any switch deactivates the motor To switch, for ead""~le from the forward o~er~li"g mode to the reverse c",erali".3 mode an o~ercll~Jr would press any one of ZO the three switche~ to deactivate the motor and would tl,c.~lter press switch 130 to resctivete the motor in the teverse mode.

Each of _u it~ 125 130 and 135 also may haYe multiple fiJn. lio. ,~. For ~aa~ E, quickly ,cr~ssi--g a switch may cause the 2~5 motor to switch b_lY/cen fonNard and reverse modes of operation while continually ~r~si,.~ the switch causes the motorto o~.~rall= in an ssc ~l -lio~, mode Similarly quickly ~ cS5i~ a switch may activate the motor while continually ~ s~ the switch s~radually ;.,cleases the spe~d of the motor or cor,~ul~ the 1- ,ii , of an 30 c.~erdli~e portion of the surgic~l instrument as ~isol lcsed above.

R~r :lliug also to Figs. 4A and 4B, each of _ vit~l.es 125, 130 and 135 comprises a ,l~ayrleL~ wih;l,ii,g el..l._.,l400 that includes a ~.rl~ el~l ..-a~n~L 405 surrounded by magnetically soft material.
The Illagr. ~i '1y so~ l-lat-:rial .~;,u.h, the magnetic field pro~ ed 5 by magnet 40!; to shunt the lI.. !~llcl to prevent the Ill~yl~e~i~, field from ~"?tin9 _~J~ circuitry in the l.a- i~ ~:e until the switch is depressed by the user, and do so without Lcc.c,~ ,,agn~ d over time.

Each of ~ s/;h.l._s 125, 130 and 135 includes a rubber boot 150 ~o ~ ,r._J over thê ~ ti. switching F1~.,l._.Il 400 Th~
rubber boots 150 are formed in a sheet of silicon~ rubber 1 5~i that is secured to the housing 10~i of hdr ~ e 1 oo by a metal cover 160.
The ~3r, . .Ont r. .dyl ,~l 405 o~ each l l ~d~ leli~ it~ tle. ~ ~c. ~l 1~ 400 is secured to a switch cover410 and ~OSi~ led within a c~rlindrical op~r.;..y 415 of a switch boKom 420. ~he switch cover 410 serves as an ~ nr for the sw~ch. A spring 425 biase3 the switch cover 410 away from the switch bottom 420, and rubber boot 150 Ill~l-t~ias the c ~t~i~hil.y ~ ~..l400 as a single unit In an 20 all~,-,dli~e c-rta,.~ ,o,-l, as illus~ in Fig. 4C, switch cover4~0 and switch bottom ~20 are r .__I,ar.;. ally ;nte~lG. I~é~ so thst rubber boot 150 serves no role in ~ L~ y s..- .in~ cl~ ci-l 400 as a single unit. The switch cover 410, switch bottom 420 and spring 425 arE~ made from a ~ y~ ti~lly soft .-.~ rial such as C~ e.lter 430F
2~ nc ~ quality .. a~ ;ically soft sla;~ ' - steel. Other magnetically soft Ill~t~ such as "'~!~' e'; 'Iy soft iron could also he used, but "agt~tically SO~ ss steel is employed for its CG~Oai ~t:si~la. .~e.

The l~u3y~ switching ~ .b. 400 are "~,~it;G.. ad and configured to i. ~e~ d~l with c . ., t:apGr~J;I 1!3 Hal~effect ~ e 1'5SS~ ~ that are W O 97/16124 PCTrUS96/17644-~ physically isol~t~rl from the ~ y ele.. -el.b. Each may~,~tic switching Lleme:rlL 400 is posilioned in a ,t:cessed portion 165 of the ~ housing 1Q5. In particular each ~I~a5~clic s~Nitching cl~.llelll 400 is ,~,osiLiol-ed on a .e. essed shelf 170 that is sized to acco,ll",oddte 5 the switch bottom 4Z0 and overlies a dep~t:ssion 175 in the housing.
The de,,.t~s;on 175 has a di~.".:Lerthat is slightly largerthan the diameter of the cy5~.,dli~d ~_ni~y 415 of the switch bO~Oln 4~0 an(:i has a closed bottom For L.~a,l ~19, at the bottom of the dep~ sion 175 corl~s~ndilly to switch 135 is a wall 180 of the housing 105 10 that physically isol~. s the ."ayn~ chr;l"i.i,.g el~."e..t 400 from a Hall-effect sensor 500 that c~ o"ds to the switch 135. This physical i501 'i~.. provides a barrier c~g~ st any pot-l.lial l~
path through the switch 135. 1 Ic~ cr b~c~ls~ the housing 105 is made from aluminum. a non-magnetic Ill~terial the ~yne~
15 - ~J;tching element 400 is not ,I,~y,,~lically isol ~ from the Hall-effect sensor 500 When switch 135 is not ~l_p~ .3~J the p~ larl~lll ",ayn~t 405 is positioned within a Yolume d~r~l~-J by the s~itch cover 410 Z0 and switch bottom 420. As noted above these ele..)cnt~ absorb the "~aSJnetic field produced by the ~_..".,...:"t ~.,.,~.,t:t 40~. When the ",~nen~ ~I.ay.~_l 405 is ~osilioneJ within the volume dc r~"ed by the switch cover 410 and the switch ~ottom 420, these elements, along with the spnng 425 co,. I ~ a ..~aynts~ic circuit that prevents 25 a significant portion (if not all~ of the .,.~..etic field pro~ ~ by the permanent l..ayl.cL405 from n:acl.;..!J the Hall~ffect sensor ~00 That is the ~ n~ . fieid is d~co~ F ' from the I lall-effect sensor ~;00.

As illu:.l,~ted in Fig. 4D Jep.essi g swltch 135 r~nses a portion of the rnagnet 405 to extend beyond switch bottom 420 into W O 97/16124 PCT~US96/17644 -the de~ression175. Asnoted ahove,the housin~105 ofthe handpiece100is made from aluminum. a material that does not absorb the ~ url~tlc tlsld and does not shunt the magnet 40~.
Tt~us. de~lessiug swltch 13~ causes a portion of the magnet 405 to rnove from ~ shunted position to a relatiYely unshunted position.
Whenthe magnet 405 is in the unshunted position, tho "~ tic fi~ p.aduc~ by rn~sr3et ~Q5 i~ coup!ed t~ nd ~en~d ~ the H~
effect sen~or 500. ~;imilar results could be obtcined if tho housing 105 were made from cnother nona-,agr;t;~;c material such ae plastic 10 or austenitic non-magnetic &t~ 6 ~ ~teel.

The Hall~effect sensor 500 ,~tsponds to the ",agnelic field by sendi"~ a si~nal to console Z05 alon~} a rr l-4iF,e~ed bus in eable 1 lû. The Hall-effect sens~r 500 is a rnodel ~ao~u Hall enect~5 sensnr ~ur~p' ~~I by Alle~ro Mlcrosystems, Inc. of Wu~c~t~
wsetts. The sensor Includes a high-~ 'uti~n bipolar Hall eflect ~ it~,l,i"g circuit that drives high-density CMOS loglc stagos.
The logic stage~ decode s~rial ~ddl~ss pulses sent by p~oce~or 215 on the rn~ '~iF ' - -e d bus and produce a, ~ponsc when an 20 ap,r,r~ p i~t~ ~ddrcss is l~ceiv~d. This ,~pon~c is indicatiYe of wl .cll ,cr thc Hall-effect 3enaor hcs det~ *d a " ,agr.t~ field.
r,, ~ e 9 9 ~r 215 r~ponds to thc signal from the H~ effec~ ~en~or 600 by cor~trc"' ~9 the motor 120 in acc~rJanco ~ith tho function of the ~wi~ch 135. The All-gro sonsor ~Iso includes an input that 25 permits conneclion of a ",ecl,anical switch Thus, if desired, a "lechanicalswitchcouldbecoupled to the ",agnetlc swl~l,lng elQ~"en~ 400 tor redundancy or as a fallsafe measurQ. or could replaoe the magnetic switclling ele "er,~ 400. However, such an a,)g~n ent would lik~3ly require the to""ation of a physical p3~3~c through the housing 105. Other m3gnetic 3cnge~.~ auch QS, for example, Hall-effect senso~ by other manufacturers or reed switches, could also be used.

Swi~en 135 has a stroke length on the order o~ 0.06 Inches 5 (I.e., the magnet 40S Is O.û~ closer to the Hall-effect scnsor 500 when switch 135 is deplessed than it is when switch 135 is not ds~i~r~s~d~. ~hus, tl~ phys.ca! dist~nce bet~A~ecn the m3gn~t ~5 and the H~ l scnsorSOOis of little s;y.,ificance to wl,~l~.or the Hall-effect sensor 600 detects the ",cgnetic field produced by the m~gnet 4Q5. Rather, the slgnifi,~ant faotor is wl~tl.er magne~ 406 i~
extcnded beyond cwitch bottom 420 ~o that the magnet 405 i6 no lonQer chunted and the ."agn~tic ficid is po....itl.~d to r~ch the Hall-offoct ~on~or 500. Magnet 405 is shunted during the flrst third of the stroke of switch 1~5, and is e~ende~ beyond switch bottom ~20 ~15 durina ~e second ~o thirds of the stroke.

Re~erring also to Figs. 5A and 5B. ~lall-effect sensor 500 is mounted ~n a drcuit board 505 that is posilioned in a channel 1~5 in the housing of the handpi~ e 100. The c;rcuit board 505 is flat, 15 mils thick, and only slightl,Y flexible. I lall cfrc~l senaor 500 i3 posilioncd within a cutout in the circuit bo~rd 505, ~nd ia connc~Jt~d to the circuit bo~rd ~y le~ds 510 thst are s~!cle ed to a pair of circuit poths 51~ that d~fine the bue ~4hich electricaily conned~ tha Hall-effect sen60r 500 to the con~ole 205. Wlror, 520 connc~ed to the circuit p~ths 615 tl-n~ il signals to and from th~ console 205.

I-lall-effect s~ns~rs 525 and 530, whlch wr,L_"ond.
r~;pr cUvely, to s~J;l~.~,es 125 and 130, are positioned in cutouts in the side of circuit board 505 and located beneath switch~s 125 and 130. ~ensors 525, ~30 ar~ angled relatiYe to the circuit bonrd 505 to acco"~."od..lt eurvature of the handpiece 100, and are conn~ct~d by ieads 510 that are sol~iered t~ the ~ircuit patns 515 An addltlonal pair of Hall-effect sensors ~3~ are positioned a~ijac ..~ to the bore 110 and r~s"ond to ",agn~t~ in the surgic~i instruments to identify the type o~ instrument i, "sd in the h~n~p;eoe, C~. Seilsors 535 ar~ ~n~led an~ c3nR~ctiqd 3n th~ ~~me way as are sensors 52~ and 530. The Hall-effect ~en~ors 635 detect w;.etl,cmll~yn_b ~re pre~ent in ~ach of two ohr~-,.be,~ wlthin Q ~urgical instrumcnt and provide thic information to the ~. uc~660r 21~. U6ing thi~ i,.f~r.,.a~ion, the p~ 6ror215id~.lt;1;c~ ~n In~rument typo to which tho instrumant belongs and uses the in~trumont type to car~ out subsequent p.lJce~s...y For ~ dlll~_le, the pr~cessor 215 may use tile instrument type to sat thQ
15 p~r..,i~ s ' ~t rani~e of ope.aLn~i speeds ~or the Instrument. Through use of the two Hall-emect sensors S3~. up to four difrel ~l ll instrument types (I.e.. no "..A~n_t~. a magnot in one of the ~ , a magnet in the other ~ iJer. Illa5,~ zS in both ~,hc~lllL_.~) may be encoded.
Addi~io~al Hall~ffect sensors 535 and cor-~:spon ii"g magnet 20 chambers could bo ompioyed to encode l~rger number~ of instrument types (e.g., four Hall-~ffect sensors ~3~ could encode 16 in~trument type3). Techniques for encodi. .g instrument types are des~ril,od in U.S. Patent~ Nos. 4,705,038 and Re. 34,~&, which ~ro ent;tled "Surgical System for ro~ r~d In~trument" ~nd ~re 2~ incGrf,o.~bd ~y r~f~r~r.ce.

The circuit board 505 als~ includes an ~ nslon ~40 that alds In l.lse,Uon o~the circult board ~0~ into the channel 185.

R~f.. i.. g to Figs. 6A-6C, a d~Foss~ie sur3ical in~trument 300 for u~e with the surgical h~nd~ieo~ disoussed above inciude~ a W O 97/16124 PCTrUS96/17644 -resilient latchinE~ ll,echanlam 310 and is conngured ~or ;rlse~ilon Into the handplece 100 wlthout manipulating the ~atching mechanism 310 or any latching mechanism on the handpiece. Ths latching hall;~..ll 310 includes a l,anl ' ~v~red resilient arm 315 that is radially spaced from an exterior surface of a hub 320 of the instrument 300. A uset ~ ril -'s~'e relecse button 325 i~ mounted on Sh~ c&~ n.d ern~ wffl. ~mp~d 12tohes ~IQ pQsitloned on either side of the relees6 ~utton 326. Each of the latche~ 330 includos a ramped leading edge ~35 and a ~ack-cut trailing edge 1 0 340.

ThQ hub 320 is formed frorn a sin~le piece of inJectlon molded plassic to which is secured a rlng structure 342 that carries car~ 'qv2re~ arm 315 so that arm 315 ~tends pluxill,hlly and a-~Jac~nt to the e~torior surFace of hub 320. The ring structure 342 is joined to the distal end of the hub 320 by a snap fit. In altcrn~ti~e arrangements, the ring structure could be integrel to the hub ot secur~d to the proximal end of the hub. When thc ring structure i~
socured to the pr~A;...al cnd of the hub, the orier.t~t~;Gn of the latcho~
330 relativ6 to the reeilient arrn 315 are rever~ed ~o th~t the latches 330 continue to have ramped leading odgo~ snd k~ cut trailing edges~

Referring also to Figs. 1, 3A,7A and 7B~ the bore 110 ot the Z5 handpiece 100 is confi~ured ~o engage wlth the latching Ille~llar~
310 ot the sur~lcal Instrument 300. For this purpose, the e~erior surface of the distal end of the har. ~ = includes a rccc sscd po~tion ~00 having a slot 605 for inse tion of the relsase button 325 of the surgical instrument wh~n the hub 320 is inserted into the bore 110. The ~aeao~d portion is provided for ease of operation ~nd W O 97/16124 PCT~US96/17644-help~ to ~!- ,.;";~le any chance that a surgieal instrument posilioned in the handpiece will be inadvertently rP~ e~

An annular nan~r~ 610 wlthln the bore 110 enye,g_~ the 5 ramped latches 330 of the surgicai instrument to a~ially seoure the Instrument to the handpiece 100. the annular flange 610 has a r~n~p-~h~pcd lezdlng edge ~ ~ and a back-out tr~ 9 edne ~2n.
With the ~.ccption of the region defined by the slot 605, the annular flange ~ t-_n~s around tho entire interior di~ r of the bore 110.
1 0 1 IOJ~ r, a p~rtisl flange could also be u6ed. Indeod, the only fi",clion~il 1 n. ~n on the flange i6 th~t it engag0 th~ l~tching ".c~,l,ani6,.. 310. A~ such~ tho ~nnul~rfl;~nge 6~0 need not include ramp-~;hapod l~ding ed~e or ~ back-cut trailing edge and could have, for e~a, ~ .~ ' e, a square or rectan3ular cr~s~ seetion. In 15 add,tion, should e~ce~sive wear be a concem the annular flang~
108 oould be formed witll a ~teel Insert.

A guide siot ~2~ inle.d~ with a tab 345 that protrudes from surgical instrument hub 320 to radially secure the surgic~l 20 instrument to the handpiece and prevent rotation of th~ surgical instrumcnt in responso to torque cpplied ~y the motor 120. A6 illustrated, the guide slot 62~ only extend6 through a portion of the radial di,nen~ion of the handpiece and i~ configurcd to ~ccept an equally 6ized ta~. The di.,.an~ c ~ of th~ guide slot and the ta~ may 2~ be va-ied to prevont the use ~f certain surgi~sl in~truments in conjunctio-~ with eertain nandpieee~ Fc~r ~.,. 'e~ an alter".,~ e han~ e could include a S~uide slot e~.tenJI,Ig cc-, ~ ly through tne radial dlm~nslon. Surglcal instruments configun d for use only wlth the altemative han~ ce could include a tab that is longer in 30 She radial direction than is the guide slot of ths present handpiece so that those inttrumonts would not be attachable to the pre60nt W O 97/16124 PCT~US96/17644 -h~ndpieoe. This a" dngemenl would still permit 5ur~1cal Instruments that are at~a~ha~le to the present handp e ~. e So b~ ~L~ hc~ to the altei,le.li~re handplece.

The tab 345 is located on the hub 320 opp~ tc the lakhing ,lle~.l,ani~ 310 and distally of the release button 325. Accordingly, ~ac~iai alignm~n~ o~ tab 345 with ~he g~lid~ 313t52~ t the surgical instrument 300 i9 inserted into the hanclpi~ce 100 i~
ensured by al;y, ..~ of the reiea~e button 325 ;n the 51Ot6~)5.
With r~r,..~nc~ ai~o to Figs. 8A 8D, the latching ",echan;~."
310 of thc ~urgic~l instrument 3~0 permiSS an ope.~urto fixedly ~ngage thP surgical instrument 300 witn the han~pl~ce 100 ~y merely ins6, til.a the hub 32Q into the bore 110 of the hclld~ 100.
1~ The hub is ins~.ted wlth the releas~ button 325 allgned with the slot 605 whlch has a fl~red opening to easo 7'-_a~--ent (Fig. 1). As the hub is i"~._. l~d. the ramped leading edgos 335 of the ramped latche~ 330 ~ngage with thc ramped le~ding cdge 615 of the annular flangc 610 (Fig. 8A). A~J;ti~nAI in3e, lion foroe cauce~ th 20 r~s ~L ~rm 315 to bend as the rGmped Icading edge6 move pa~t each other (Fig. 8B). Evontually, the trailing edgo~ 340 of the ramped latche3 330 pac~ the trailing odgo ~20 of the annular flange ~310 (Fi~. 8C). At this point, th~ resilient arm 31~ returns to its normal, unbent o,i~n~tion an~ the ramped latches 330 snap Into 2~ place with their trailing edges against the trailin~ edge ot the annular nang~} 610 (Fig 8D). RP~ e tne tralllng edges of ~uth the annular nan~e 610 and thr ramped latch~s 330 are bacl~-cut the hub 320 moves sllghtly toward the distal ~nd of the handpioce 100 when the latches 330 snap into placc.

W O 97/16124 PCT~US96/17644-Referring to Fig6. 6A-6C, the ~urgicai in~trument 300 includes 3 driYc shaft 350 that i~ inrDsrted into the hub 320. The drive shaK
350 includes an extonsion 3~ that engages with the spring-loaded ~e~lQd drive shaft 1 15 of the nar ip e o 100. When the sur~ical instrument 30Q is positioned In the handplece 100 rotatlon o~ the drive shaft 115 causes the drlve shaft 3~0 to rotate. TechniQues for s~lin~ th~ ~rlY~ shait ~1~ ale desoribe:d in U.S. i:aterit ~io.
5 133 729 which is entitl~d "Motor-Driven Itand-Pi-3ce for a Surgical Tool" and is i, l..o",or;.~t.d by rt:f~ nce.
To ease ~ ..".cnt of ext~r 9 0n 355 with drive shcft 116 ~Al._nsion 355 include3 a drill tlp configuration 3~7 with sloped canted ~dge~ at its p,."~i",al end. If e~tt nsion 35~ i~ not aligned with driYe shsK 116 ae the cur3icsl1 in6trument is in~ortod into the 15 hor.. 4,3~ccl the drill tip configuration 357 ongages with the drive 6haft 115 and eau~as th~ ~..lension ~55 (aiong with the drive shatt 350) to rotate until the esttnsion and the driv~ shaR are properly ali3ned.

The sprlng loadin!~ of drive shaft 115 eflects a distally l forr e against the hub 320 throuQh the drive shaft 350. This ft~rce serves tcl s6~cure the surgical instrument 3~Q in the bore 110 Ad-iition2il securing force is provided br 8 cGI~ nt rubber eoal 366 that is secured to the hub 320 by ~ puir of tabs 367 and provides a 25 fluid-tight ~3al with the wall6 of the borc 110.

When tho rampod latches 330 are Qngaged with the trailin~
edgo of the annular nange 610 the spring 1Q0 of the drive shaft 116 is compressed and ~Yerts a force a~alnst the ramped latches 330 30 tnrou~h the drlve sha~ 3~0 and the hub 320. This forc~ s~cures the rampr~d latches 330 against the annular flange 610. Since the tralllng edges of both the annular flange ~10 and the ramped latches 330 are back-cut. the force exerted by the spring 1g0 must be ~-~e,~,c."~e before the latches 300 can be discng~Qcd from the flange ~10.

In addition to providing ea~e of engag.,.,.anL batw00n tho handpiecP ~ ~0 a~d tk~ allr~ in~trurnQnt ~0Qt the latching "-c_har,i~ 310 permits the oper~tor to release the instrumen~ 300 from tho h~ndpiece 100 by simply pr~ising release bunon ~25 and 10 does not require manipula~on of tne nanapiece 100 or turther manir~ul:~tion of the sur~ical instrument 300. When the relea~e button 32~ is p,~ssed, the tralllng edges of sleped rarnps 330 an mo~ d along the trailing ed~e of the annular flange ~10 until the trailing ~dges no lon~er contact the annular flang~ (Fig. 8C). M that 1~ point. the sprinu 19~ of the drive shaft 115 hrces the surgical instrument 300 away from thc prox;...~l end of the h~ndpiece 100 until the ~pring 190 b no longer compre~ed.

~hel hub include6 a pair of radially e~t~nding chambQrs 360 20 (Fig. 7B) in which may ba umbr dded l"~nets 362. As discuesed abovo, the ~ yn~t~ 366 interact with Hall-effect devices ~3~ to idontify the instrument type of surgieal instrument 300. Each ch~,..ber 360 is covered cy a plastic eap 364. Technlques tor e..,Lleddi,.3 the ma~nets are descrlbed In ~p~ liull Serial No.
081538.298. entltled "Surgical Instrument with Ernhedded Coding Elum~nt' and filed on October 2, 1995, which i~ i"c~.por~tcd ~y referenc~.

~urgicsl in~truments may be configured to perform a varioty 3Q of sur~ical oper~Uon~. Numcrou~ r!es of surgical instruments are provided in, for e~d"1 'e, U.S. Pat~nt No. 4,203,444, entitled W O 97tl6124 PCT~US96/17644-"Suryical Instrumcnt Suited for Closed Surger~"; U.~;. Patent ~o.

4,274.414, entitled "Meni3cal Cutter (Surgicsl Instrument)"; U.S.
Patent No. 4,6~ ~0&, entitled "Surgical Inetrument"; U.S. Patent No.
4,~62,371, entitled "Surgical In6trument": U.S. Patent No. 4,834,72S, 6 entitted "Arthro~copic Surgic~l Instrument"; U.S. Patent No.
4,842,~78, entitlQd "Surgical Instrument ~or Arthroscopic A~lh!opl~ty", lJ S P~tent No. ~,983,179. entitled "A,lhr~s~Flc Surgical Instrument": U.S. Paten~ tlo. 5,152.744. entltled "Surgical Instrumenr~: U S. Patent No. ~.320.63~, entitled "Surgical Device";
and U.S. Patent No. 5.322.~05. entitled "Surgical Instrument", all of whlch aro il~,u~v~dt~sJ by roference. Additional instruments are acdL~ d in U.~ pli~ation Seri~l No. 08~319,0~7, entitled "Surgical In~trument", which wa~ filed on ~;epl~",ber 23, 1594; U.S.
p~ic~tion Serial No. 08142~,719, entitled "CurYed Surgical 15 In~trument with Segmented Inner ~len.l~er", which wa6 filed on April 20, 1996; U.S. ~rpli~t;on Serial No. 081388,992, ~ntitled "Sur~ical In6trument", which was fil-d on February 1~, 19g5: and II.S.
Arplic~l;on Serial No. 08/200,662, entitled ~'Surgical Instrument", which was filed on FebnJaly 2~. 1994, all of which are incGr,uGr~t~_d 20 by ,~ferencQ.

In the Illustrated ~ odi~ nt, the surgical instrument 300 is z cutting instrument that includes a fixod hub 320 to which i~ ched a hollow outer tube 370, and a rc ~t~ 'e drive sha~t 350 to which is 25 all.~l .cd ~ hollow inner tube 375. Opcn;ng~s in the distal end~ of the tube3 370 ~nd 37~ haYe shal,l.ened edges and perform a cuning action when the inner tube 37~ i~ rotatod within the outer tube 370.
While hub 320 and drive shaft 3~0 are made ~rom inJection-molded plastic, tubes 370 and 375 are made from sLainle58 steQI to render 30 the instrument r~adily ~ roC~hle Other materlals could be used if it was desirable lo make the Instrurnent reusable.

CA 02234l95 l998-04-28 Refemng al60 to Fig~. 3A, 3B 7P~ and 7B drive shaft 350 includos an oponing 380 that permits material drawn through inn~r tube 375 to pass into an asp;r~l.on channel 630 of the handplece 100 The hand,~iace 100 also includes a handle 63S that, or,lluls a val~e 6~0 and thereby controls tlow through the a~ aliull channel 530 ~ ian~e ~3~15 3c~iSi~n~d ~r3 'he ~ottom of th~ hand~h_e near the dlsPI end of the l,dr 1~ :9 . ~ and rotates about an axis B45 that is pe".endi~ular to a longitudinal axis 140 of the handpiece.
10 This u, ient~tion permits onc h~nd~d finger control of nOw through the ~ ion chrlnnel 630 by a person holding the handf,ioce ~00 The ~ .p;~lion cl~a~nel 630 end6 at an ~ .ation spigot 650 at the p(o~i" ,al ~nd of the handpiacr~. During u~o th~ Spi3Ot 650 is connccteJ to a eouree of ~uction (not shown).
Three kn~rled bands B~5 define arcs about the clrcumference of the h~ndpiece 100. Thes~ bands provlde e~se o~ gripplng and are formed by scorin~ the outer surtace of the hdn~l~,;e~e.

Other elllbud;.lle~ are also co-~te."~lated. For c~aillpk as Illustrated in Fig. 9A an alternative latching mechanism ~00 includes release button 906 that is axially ~pacet from a ramped l~tch 910.
C~ue to the axi~l ~ sp!~ ;ement relatively more force mu~t bo incident on rolesse button 90~ to move ramped latch ~t0 than rnust be 26 ir, ~ent on relea80 button 325 to mov~ r~mped latch 330 radially ~way from flange 610. To ease assertion of tlle additional f~rce roloase button 905 typically has a lar~er surface area than does release button 325 ThQ aYial~icrl~~o",ento~ the reiease button 905 relatiYe to the ramped latch 910 permits the flange ~10 to be moved PIUA;IIIC~ relatiYe to the slot 506 which can be .~u. ul~lpl;shed by shortening the 510t, moYing the flsnge or la combination of the two. Movement of the tlanoe relatlve to the slot inat~s the bresk in tha nan~e due to the slot. whlle moYement of thQ latch rela~ive to the release bunon ~' "i"..'~j the break in the latch due to the reloase button. This permit~ the latch and flange to engage each other along continuoussu~aces.

~ 5 shcwn in Figs, 9~ and gC, ~ h~ndptece 91fi for uso ~.vith the latching ~-.ech~ni~m 900is idcntioal to the handpieee 100 deacfil~ed cbove with the ~Y~ept;on that the flange 920 of tho 10 hanif ie ce ~15 i~ po~itionod further from the distal end of the handpioco th~n is the flange 610 of tne nan1r ~ee 100. In this configuration, the flange 920 is posi~ion3d pru~i,..all~ o~ ~he slot 605 within the bore 11~ and no lon~er ir,r~ ~ec~ ttle slot ~0~.
Acco~;n~ly, the flange 920 Is unlnterrupted and forms a continuou~
15 rins around th~ Interlor of the bor~ 110. Similar r~sults may be o~ ed by I~ llo;l~ the position of the flan~e within tho b~re and s1,~- ~en;.lg the slot ~QB.

Ths latching mechanism 310 ma~ ai~o bu Yaried in other 20 ways. For c~.~..., k. Fig. ~D Illustrat~s sn alternative latching mcchani~m ~26 that inciude~ :~ relea~e button 930 :~nd 5~ I~tch 935 havin~ a 6quare cro6~; ~ection. Fi~. 9E ~nd 9F illustrate a latohing ...echani~", 940 th~t includes a release button 945 and a ramped l~tch 950. In addition to having a ramped l~adin~ surface 955, the 25 latch g50 in~iudes a leading ed6e 960 that tapers to a point 9B5 in the lon~itudinal dir__Uoll. Slmllarly, a latch 970 illustrated in Figs.
gG and 9H Includes a r~ ase button ~75 and a latch 980 that includes a ramped l~adin~3 surface 995 and a curvod leading edge 990.

W O 97/16124 PCT~US96/17644 -~ Referring to Figs. 1 OA-1 OC, another alternative iatching mech~nism inoludes a tab 1000 and a tab 1005. Tab 1000 i~
~ mounted on a hub 1010 of a surgical in~trumQnt 1015. Tab 1005 is mounted on the pr-~x;",al side of a spring-loaded plate 102D that is po~ition~d ~t the distal end of th~ hub 1~10. Tabs 100D and 100 are positioned to define an arc on the order of 17û~ arcund the circutntel.nC~ ot the hub 1010. At in,~ . the hub lO lO is i..se,t~d into the bore 110 otthe handplece, wlth the tab 1000 ali~ned wlth the slot 60~, The hub is inserted until tab 1000 passes 10 through the gap in the flange ~1û that is forrned by the slot 60B. At that point, plate 1020 is pressed a~inst the di~tal end of handpiece 100 so that a spring 1025 i5 co...pre~scd and, bec~ e the tab~
1000 and 100~ define an src of 170~ while 310ts 610 and 626 o~ the han~;occ are of~et by 180~, tab 1005 i9 not aligned with clot 625.
1~ Once th~ tab 1000 clear~ the gap, the huh 1010 is rotated untii the tab 1005 align3 with the slot 626 and snape into place to lock tho hub 1010 within the bore. The inctrument i~ removod from the bore by pulling the piate 1020 away from the han~F i~ ~ ~ 100 until the tab 100~ ie out of the 610t ô25 and rotsting the hub 1010 until the tab 1000 align~ with tho gap in the flange 610.

Referring to Figs. 1 lA and 11B. th~ latchlng ,-.e~ r.i .~-~ also may be i.,.pl~...en~d wlth a sprlng-loaded plunger 1100 p~sitioned In an Inder,Ldtlun 11~ in the; hub 111Q of a sur~ical instrument. A
spring 11 1 5 could be a s~carale co,l"~oner,l or molded with th~
plung~r 1 100, Re~erring to Fi~. 12, the latching rnechani~m 310 also may be incGr~or~ted into an adaptor 1200 for conn~ ,ng a hub of a ~urgical 30 instrument to a handpi~ce. The adapter 12ûQ includes a proxlmal end 1205 for insel~ion Into the bcre 110 ot the handplece and a W O 97/16124 PCT~US96/17644-distal end 1210 configured for aLlach~"~l~t to a hub of a sur3ical instrument.

Other em~o~ll "er,l~ are wlthln the followlng clalms.

Claims

29

1. Apparatus comprising:
a body configured for insertion into a bore of a surgical handpiece, and a latch comprising a resilient member connected to said body and having a latching structure configured to latchingly engage a surface of the surgical handpiece within the bore.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said resilient member comprises a cantilevered arm.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said cantilevered arm is configured to radially deflect during insertion into the bore of the handpiece and to return from the radial deflection to permit said latching structure to latchingly engage the surface of the surgical handpiece within the bore.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said latch further comprises a user-manipulable release portion mounted on said cantilevered arm.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said resilient member is configured to radially deflect in response to pressure on said release portion so as to disengage said latching structure from the surface of the surgical handpiece within the bore.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said latching structure is positioned adjacent to said release portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said latching structure is spaced from said release portion along a longitudinal axis of said body.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said body includes a proximal end for insertion into the bore and wherein said latching structure includes:
a leading edge that is ramped in a direction from the proximal end of said body toward a distal end of said body; and a latching surface oriented transversely to a longitudinal axis of said body.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said latching surface comprises a trailing edge at a distal end of said latching structure, said trailing edge being angled toward the distal end of said body in a radial direction from said body.

10. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said body further comprises a tab that extends radially from an exterior surface thereof and is positioned to engage an opening in the handpiece.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said tab is positioned distally of said release portion.

12. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said body is formed from a single piece of injection molded plastic.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a ring structure that carries said cantilevered arm and is secured to said body so that said arm extends proximally to and adjacent to an exterior surface of said body.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said ring structure is joined to a distal end of the body by a snap fit.

15. the apparatus of claim 1, wherein said body further comprises a tab that extends radially from an exterior surface thereof and is positioned to engage an opening in the handpiece.

16. A surgical instrument hub comprising the apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising:
an outer member connected to and extending from said body to a tissue receiving opening at a distal end of said outer member;
an inner member including at a distal end thereof a surgical tool to cut tissue, said inner member being positioned within said outer member and being rotatable relative to said outer member;
and a drive shaft connected to said inner member for rotating said inner member.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said body carries a magnet that is sensed when said apparatus is inserted into the bore of the surgical handpiece.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said body comprises an adapter for interconnecting a hub of a surgical instrument to the handpiece, said adapter having a proximal end for insertion into the bore and a distal end configured for attachment to the hub of the surgical instrument.

19. A surgical device including the apparatus of claim 1, said surgical device further comprising the handpiece having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said handpiece includes a bore at the distal end thereof for insertion of said body of said apparatus and an annular flange located within the bore to latchingly engage said latching structure when said body is inserted into said bore.

20. The surgical device of claim 19, wherein said annular flange includes a ramped edge at an end closest to the distal end of the handpiece and, at an end furthest from the distal end of the handpiece, an edge that is angled toward the distal end of the handpiece in a radial direction from a longitudinal axis of the bore.

21. The surgical device of claim 18, wherein said handpiece includes a slot at the distal end thereof and wherein said latch further comprises a user-manipulable release portion positioned for insertion into said slot when said body is inserted into said bore.

22. The surgical device of claim 21, wherein said body includes a tab that extends radially from an exterior surface thereof and is positioned distally of said release portion, and wherein said handpiece includes an opening positioned for engagement with said tab when said body is inserted into said bore.

23. The surgical device of claim 19, wherein said handpiece further comprises a motor having a drive shaft, and wherein said drive shaft of said surgical instrument includes an extension having a drill tip configuration with sloped, canted edged at a proximal end of the drill tip configuration for engagement with said drive shaft of said motor.

24. The surgical device of claim 19 wherein said device further compressed a recessed portion on the exterior surface and including a slot.

25. The surgical device of claim 24 wherein said annular flange is positioned proximally of a proximal end of said slot of said portion.

26. The surgical device of claim 21 wherein said user-manipulable release portion is configured to move said latch from an engaging portion in which said latch engages said annular flange to a non-engaging position in which said latch is disengaged from said annular flange when said release portion is depressed.

27. The surgical device of claim 26 further comprising a spring-loaded plunger coupler between said latch and said user-manipulable release portion.

28. The surgical device of claim 24 wherein said slot of said recessed portion has a flared opening at its distal end.

29. A surgical instrument comprising:
a body disposed along an axis and configured to be received in a bore of a surgical handplace at least a portion of said body including a ramped leading surface configured to be advanced past a latching surface within the bore while said body is being inserted into the bore, and an engagement surface oriented transversely with respect to the axis of said body and configured to engage the latching surface when said body is fully inserted into the bore; and a release portion for disengaging said engagement surface from the latching surface to allow said body to be withdrawn from the bore.

30. A surgical assembly comprising the apparatus of claim 1 together with a surgical handpiece.

31. A surgical instrument comprising the apparatus of claim 16 together with a surgical handpiece.

32. The surgical assembly of claim 30 in kit form.

33. The surgical instrument of claim 31 in kit form.

34. An apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to accompanying drawings.