Self-aligning drive coupler
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorTejas Inamdar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods herein are associated with a handpiece, a drive hub, a drive coupler, and an instrument comprising an elongate shaft and resection member telescoped within the elongate shaft, the resection member coupled to the drive hub. The drive hub comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface defines a cross-sectional shape, and the drive hub is coupled to a drive shaft of a motor of the handpiece. The drive coupler comprises a first lobe extending radially from a central axis of the drive coupler, the drive coupler is telescoped at least partially within the drive hub such that the first lobe that engages with a portion of the cross-sectional shape.
Claims26
A surgical system comprising:
- a handpiece comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a motor that defines a drive shaft;
- a drive hub comprising an interior surface, and an exterior surface, the interior surface defines a cross-sectional shape, and the drive hub coupled to the drive shaft;
- a drive coupler having an exterior surface defining a continuously curved configuration about a periphery thereof, the drive coupler comprising a first lobe defining a first portion of the exterior surface and extending radially from a central axis of the drive coupler, the first lobe positioned off-center relative to the central axis such that the first portion of the exterior surface extends eccentrically relative to the central axis, the drive coupler telescoped at least partially within the drive hub such that the first portion of the exterior surface engages a portion of the interior surface of the drive hub;
- and
- an instrument comprising an elongate shaft and resection member telescoped within the elongate shaft, the resection member coupled to the drive hub.
A method of assembling a surgical device, comprising:
- initially telescoping a drive hub over a portion of a drive coupler along a central axis, the drive coupler having an exterior surface defining a continuously curved configuration about a periphery thereof, the drive coupler comprising a first lobe defining a first portion of the exterior surface and extending radially outward from the central axis, the first lobe positioned off-center relative to the central axis such that the first portion of the exterior surface extends eccentrically relative to the central axis, wherein, during the initial telescoping, the first portion of the exterior surface contacts a portion of an interior surface of the drive hub;
- and
- further telescoping the drive hub over a further portion of the drive coupler along the central axis, thereby causing relative axial rotation between the drive hub and the drive coupler and relative sliding between the first portion of the exterior surface and the portion of the interior surface until the first lobe of the drive coupler is aligned with and engages with a mating mechanism of the drive hub.
A handpiece for a surgical system, the handpiece comprising:
- an outer cover that defines a proximal end and distal end;
- a motor disposed with the outer cover;
- a drive shaft coupled to the motor;
- and
- a drive coupler having an exterior surface defining a continuously curved configuration about a periphery thereof, the drive coupler disposed at distal end of the handpiece and coupled to the drive shaft, the drive coupler defining a central axis and comprising at least one lobe extending radially outward from the drive coupler to define at least a first portion of the exterior surface that extends eccentrically relative to the central axis, wherein the at least one lobe comprises a rake that slopes toward the proximal end of the handpiece.
An instrument for a surgical system, the instrument comprising:
- an elongate shaft comprising a tip at a distal end;
- a resection member telescoped with the elongate shaft;
- a drive coupler having an exterior surface defining a continuously curved configuration about a periphery thereof, the drive coupler coupled to the resection member at a proximal end of the instrument, the drive coupler comprising at least one lobe extending radially outward from a central axis of the resection member to define a first portion of the exterior surface that extends eccentrically relative to the central axis of the resection member, wherein the at least one lobe comprises a blade shape comprising a leading edge, a trailing edge, a rake, and a blade tip between the leading and the trailing edges that defines a length of the blade from the outside surface of the elongate shaft;
- and
- wherein the proximal end of the elongate shaft is configured to couple to a second component via the at least one lobe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.