US 11,944,502 B2
Torque limiting ratcheting handle for medical instrument
Gregory Denham, Warsaw, IN (US); Joseph Whitley, Leesburg, IN (US); and Ryan Schlotterback, Fort Wayne, IN (US)
Assigned to MEDARTIS AG, Basel (CH)
Filed by Nextremity Solutions, Inc., Warsaw, IN (US)
Filed on Mar. 24, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/210,664.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/008,004, filed on Apr. 10, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0315657 A1, Oct. 14, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); B25B 13/46 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 90/03 (2016.02) [A61B 17/00 (2013.01); B25B 13/461 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00398 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00407 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00464 (2013.01); A61B 2090/031 (2016.02)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for releasably holding a surgical tool, said apparatus comprising:
a ratchet shifter, said ratchet shifter including a proximal end, a distal end and a body defining a through-hole;
a tool connector, said tool connector including a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end, said tool connector further including a tool engagement body and a mounting post extending longitudinally along the longitudinal axis from the tool engagement body to the distal end, the tool engagement body including a tool engagement opening at the proximal end communicating with a longitudinal bore extending through at least a portion of the tool engagement body along the longitudinal axis, the longitudinal bore configured to releasably couple the surgical tool, the mounting post including a forward ratchet hinge and a rear ratchet hinge, said ratchet shifter telescopically receiving said tool connector and slidably moveable between a first position and a second position;
a torque coupler, said torque coupler including a cylindrical body including an outer surface and an inner surface defining a through-hole, the mounting post of said tool connector passing through the through hole of the cylindrical body, said torque coupler slidably and rotatably coupled to the mounting post of said tool connector, the distal end of said ratchet shifter coupled to the outer surface of said torque coupler, the outer surface of said torque coupler including a plurality of fingers extending radially outward from the outer surface, the inner surface including a forward portion and a rear portion, the forward portion including a plurality of teeth, the rear portion including a plurality of teeth, wherein, in the first position, the forward ratchet hinge engages the plurality of teeth of the forward portion to allow ratcheting in a first direction and maximum torque in a second direction, wherein, in the second position, the rear ratchet hinge engage the plurality of teeth of the rear portion to allow ratcheting in the second direction and maximum torque in the first direction;
a rear power housing, said rear power housing rotatably coupled to the mounting post of said tool connector, said rear power housing including a longitudinal axis, a rear power housing body and a drive shaft extending longitudinally along the longitudinal axis from the rear power housing body, the rear power housing body defining a cavity including an inner surface, the inner surface including a plurality of teeth projecting radially inward from the inner surface, wherein, in the first position, during rotation of said rear power housing in the first direction, the plurality of fingers slidably engage the plurality of teeth to limit the applied torque of said torque coupler and said tool connector from said rear power housing, and wherein, in the first position, during rotation of said rear power housing in the second direction, the plurality of teeth of the rear power housing prevent movement of the plurality of fingers to allow maximal applied torque of said torque coupler and said tool connector from said rear power housing.