Arthroscopic sheath with quick coupling socket

A quick coupling socket adapted for receiving therein and locking thereto an associated cylindrical plug member, said socket comprising:

• a tubular cylindrical housing having a rear open end for receiving the associated plug member and a front end for being operatively connected to a selected member, said cylindrical housing provided with a plurality of annularly arranged and circumferentially spaced throughbores extending radially outwardly from the axis of said cylindrical housing and axially away from the rear end thereof;
• a plurality of locking pins, each respectively situated within one of said throughbores and slidable therein, each pin comprising:
• a generally cylindrical member having at its most radially inward end a first end surface and, at its other end, a second end surface oriented at a first predetermined angle relative to the axis thereof,
• said cylindrical member having a notch formed substantially in its rearwardly facing cylindrical surface adjacent said second end surface, said notch comprising a first surface oriented at a second predetermined angle relative to the axis of said cylindrical member and a second surface oriented substantially parallel to the axis of said cylindrical housing;
• a slidable cylindrical actuating assembly mounted coaxially to and radially outwardly of said cylindrical housing, said actuating assembly comprising:
• an inner actuating sleeve having a first annular end comprising a radially inwardly directed first annular flange slidably situated on the external surface of said cylindrical housing adjacent said rear end thereof, a second annular end proximate to and selectively engageable with the first surface of the notch of each of said cylindrical members, a spring means interposed between said first annular flange and said external surface of said first cylindrical housing for maintaining rearward bias therebetween;
• an outer actuating sleeve attached to and movable with said inner actuating sleeve, said outer actuating sleeve comprising, adjacent its front end, an annular retaining surface abutting each of said second end surfaces of said cylindrical members, the front ends of said inner and outer actuating sleeves being spaced a predetermined distance to enable said pins to move relative to same as said actuating assembly is moved relative to said housing;
• and
• a second annular flange adjacent the rear end of and on the external surface of said cylindrical housing, said second annular flange for contacting said first annular flange, thereby limiting the forward motion of said cylindrical actuating assembly relative to said cylindrical housing.

A tubular arthroscopic sheath for receiving therein an associated arthroscopic tool, said arthroscopic sheath comprising a quick coupling socket for selectively locking said sheath and said tool together, said socket comprising:

• a tubular cylindrical housing having a rear open end for receiving the associated arthroscopic tool and a front end connected to a tube coaxially aligned with said cylindrical housing, said cylindrical housing provided with a plurality of annularly arranged and circumferentially spaced throughbores extending radially outwardly from the axis of said cylindrical housing and axially away from the rear end thereof;
• a plurality of locking pins, each respectively situated within one of said throughbores and adapted to be non-rotatably slidable therein, each pin comprising:
• a generally cylindrical member having at its most radially inward end a first end surface and, at its other end, a second end surface oriented at a first predetermined angle relative to the axis thereof, said cylindrical member having a notch formed substantially in its rearwardly facing cylindrical surface adjacent said second end surface, said notch comprising a first surface oriented at a second predetermined angle relative to the axis of said cylindrical member and a second surface oriented substantially parallel to the axis of said cylindrical housing;
• a slidable cylindrical actuating assembly mounted coaxially to and radially outwardly of said cylindrical housing, said actuating assembly comprising:
• an inner actuating sleeve having a first annular end comprising a radially inwardly directed annular flange slidably situated on the external surface of said cylindrical housing adjacent said rear end thereof, a second annular end proximate to and selectively engageable with the first surface of the notch of each of said cylindrical members, a spring means interposed between said annular flange and said external surface of said first cylindrical housing for maintaining rearward bias therebetween;
• an outer actuating sleeve attached to and movable with said inner actuating sleeve, said outer actuating sleeve comprising, adjacent its front end, an annular retaining surface abutting each of said second end surfaces of said cylindrical members, the front ends of said inner and outer actuating sleeves being spaced a predetermined distance to enable said pins to move relative to same as said actuating assembly is moved relative to said housing.