Apparatus and methods for attaching and detaching an ultrasonic actuated blade/coupler and an acoustical mount therefor

Apparatus for attaching a surgical device to a mount wherein the surgical device includes a coupler carrying a surgical tool comprising:

• an adaptor including an elongated sleeve, having an axis, for receiving the surgical tool, a flange having an abutment, guide surfaces engageable with the coupler when the surgical tool is received by the adaptor for rotating the coupler upon the rotation of said adaptor;
• a generally radially extending element carried by said adaptor for rotating the adaptor to rotate the coupler, said element being movable in opposite directions about an axis non-coincident with the axis of said sleeve, said element being cooperable with said abutment in response to rotation of said element about its axis in one direction to rotate the adaptor and coupler about the axis of said sleeve and to limit the torque applied by said adaptor to the coupler to a predetermined magnitude thereof;
• and
• a second abutment carried by said flange, said element being cooperable with said second abutment in response to rotation of said element about its axis in the opposite direction for applying a torque to the adaptor and coupler in excess of said predetermined magnitude of torque.

A method for attaching a surgical device to a mount wherein the surgical device includes a coupler carrying the surgical tool, comprising the steps of:

• providing an adaptor having a sleeve containing the surgical tool and engageable with the coupler such that the coupler and adaptor may be rotated in one direction upon rotation of said adaptor in said one direction;
• providing a first member carried by the adaptor and movable in opposite directions;
• providing a second non-movable member carried by a flange on the adaptor and engageable by said first member;
• moving said first member in one direction to engage said second member to rotate the adaptor and coupler in one rotary direction;
• limiting the torque applied by said adaptor to the coupler to a predetermined magnitude thereof in response to movement of said member is said one direction by enabling deflection of said flange carrying said second member thereby displacing said flange and said second member away from said first member upon reaching the predetermined torque such that the first member, moving in said one direction, moves past the second member;
• providing a third substantially non-movable member spaced from said second member and carried by said flange, said third member being dimensioned to engage said first ember and substantially preclude movement of said first ember past said third member in response to movement of said first member in the opposite direction;
• moving said first member in the opposite direction to engage said third member to rotate the adaptor and coupler in the opposite rotary direction;
• and
• applying a torque to said first member when moving it in said opposite direction and against said third member to rotate said adaptor and coupler in said opposite rotary direction, in excess of said predetermined magnitude of torque, thereby to detach the surgical device and the mount.