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US 12,678,177 B2Granted
Multiple connection drive shaft
AssigneeMedtronic PS Medical, Inc.
InventorMilton F. Barnes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a system to engage a plurality of tools. In the system a drive shaft and collet may be assembled to engage and disengage, selectively, a plurality of tools. User selection may allow use of a plurality of tools during a procedure or during a plurality of procedures.
Claims10
A drive shaft assembly, comprising:
- a drive shaft extending from a first end to a second end, the drive shaft including:
- a first drive shaft member defining a through-bore extending through the first drive shaft member;
- and
- a second drive shaft member axially and rotationally fixed relative to the first drive shaft member within the through-bore of the first drive shaft member;
- a first tool driving region defined within the drive shaft and configured to releasably and axially retain a first tool via a first biasing member;
- and
- a second biasing member including an outer sleeve positionable over the drive shaft, a distal extension of the outer sleeve defined by an inner surface having an inclined surface extending therefrom, the inclined surface cooperating with a plurality of spherical locking members to releasably and rotationally retain the first tool within the drive shaft,
- wherein the first biasing member includes a pair of tangs disposed in mutual opposition relative to one another and configured under a spring-bias to radially engage a tool engaging region of the first tool, the first biasing member including a complementary, interlocking geometry between the pair of tangs and the tool engaging region of the first tool to facilitate both axial, releasably locking engagement between the pair of tangs and the tool engaging region of the first tool and radial engagement therebetween.
5 more elements
A drive shaft assembly, comprising:
- a drive shaft including:
- a first drive shaft member defining a through-bore extending through the first drive shaft member;
- and
- a second drive shaft member axially and rotationally fixed relative to the first drive shaft member within the through-bore of the first drive shaft member;
- a plurality of tangs extending from the drive shaft and configured to releasably and axially lock a first tool upon selective engagement thereof;
- and
- a biasing member including an outer sleeve positionable over the drive shaft, a distal extension of the outer sleeve defined by an inner surface having an inclined surface extending therefrom, the inclined surface cooperating with a plurality of spherical locking members to releasably and rotationally retain the first tool within the drive shaft,
- wherein each tang of the plurality of tangs is disposed in mutual opposition relative to another tang of the plurality of tangs under a spring-bias such that the plurality of tangs flexes radially to engage a tool engaging region of the first tool, the plurality of tangs and the tool engaging region of the first tool including complementary, interlocking geometry therebetween to facilitate axial, releasably locking engagement between the tool engaging region of the first tool and the plurality of tangs, the complementary, interlocking geometry configured to both axially and releasably lock and radially engage the tool engaging region of the first tool.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.