SURGICAL COMPONENT CONNECTING DEVICE, KIT, AND METHODS OF USE

Abstract

A surgical component connecting device, kit, and method are disclosed. The surgical component connective device includes an outer body, a body element, and a support element. The support element is slidably mounted relative to the body element. Two or more surgical component engaging elements provided towards the distal end of the body element, and at least one of the surgical component engaging elements is operably connected to the support element. The two or more surgical component engaging elements have a first state and a second state. The separation of the two or more surgical component engaging elements is greater in the second state than in the first state.

Claims

1. A surgical component connecting device, the connecting device comprising: an outer body; a body element; a support element, the support element being slidably mounted relative to the body element; two or more surgical component engaging elements provided towards the distal end of the body element, at least one of the surgical component engaging elements being operably connected to the support element; wherein the two or more surgical component engaging elements have a first state and a second state, wherein the separation of the two or more surgical component engaging elements is greater in the second state than in the first state.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the body element is rotatably mounted relative to the outer body.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the engaging elements are slidably mounted relative to the support element, the engaging elements sliding radially inward and radially outward,

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein, in the first state the engaging elements have a first state position and in the second state the engaging elements have a second state position, wherein in the first state position an engaging element is radial inward compared with when in the second state position, and wherein, in the first state position, two or more engaging elements have a reduced separation when compared with their separation in the second state position.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein, in the first state the engaging elements have a first state position and in the second state the engaging elements have a second state position, wherein in the second state position an engaging element is radial outward compared with when in the first state position, and wherein in the second state position, two or more engaging elements have an increased separation when compared with their separation in the first state position.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the engaging elements are slidable mounted relative to the support element by: a recess to provide a mount; an elongate slot to provide a second mount; a connector engaged with the mount and the second mount.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the elongate slot is inclined, the elongate slot having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the elongate slot being at a greater radial distance than the proximal end.

8. A device according to claim 6, wherein the elongate slot provides a ramp leading away from the body element, the ramp leading up towards a distal end of the device.

9. A device according to any of claims, wherein the mount is provided on an engaging element or on a part connected thereto and the second mount is provided by the support element on a rib extending from the support element.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein, in the first state the support element is closer to a distal end of the body element than in the second state.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the support element is restrained from rotation relative to the body element.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the two or more surgical component engaging elements oppose one another.

13. A device according to claim 1, wherein the engaging elements are provided with a surgical component engaging surface, the engaging surface being provided with a threaded portion.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein the engaging elements are acted on by a biasing element, the biasing element bias an engaging element towards the first state position for the engaging element.

15. A device according to claim 1, wherein an operating element is provided at or towards the proximal end of the device, the operating element being operably connected to the support element to cause movement of the support element.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the operating element is rotatably mounted on the body element, rotation in a first direction causing slidable movement of the support element towards the distal end and rotation in a second direction causing slidable movement of the support element towards the proximal end.

17. A device according to claim 1, wherein the body element has a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end providing a connection location for the surgical component, the body element being provided with a bore at the distal end, the connection location being provided within the bore.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0077] Various embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0078] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a handle element according to the disclosure, engaged with a threaded component;

[0079] FIG. 2a is an illustration of the handle element in a first state, with the handle element adapted to engage a threaded component;

[0080] FIG. 2b is an illustration of the handle element of FIG. 2b, with the handle element in a second state, released from any engagement;

[0081] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a prototype handle element according to the disclosure; and

[0082] FIGS. 4a and 4b are exploded perspective views of a further embodiment of the handle element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0083] In surgery, such as orthopaedic surgery, there are a large number of situations in which two components need to be connected together. The connection mechanism used must be robust and yet easily operated. Male and female thread combinations, such as nut and bolt combinations, are very frequently used in such situations.

[0084] A potential issue with the nut and bolt approach is the time taken to connect two threaded components together and the time taken to release those two components once the connection is no longer required.

[0085] The surgical component may be a tool or instrument. The surgical component may be an implant or part thereof. The surgical component may be a fixing. The present disclosure is particularly suitable for use with reamers, broaches or rasps and similar surgical instruments. The present disclosure is also particularly suitable for use with cutting blocks and the like.

[0086] The present disclosure is beneficial in providing a strong axial lock for the components, whilst coupling the two for effective rotation together, such as a reamer and a shaft. The threaded engagement also pulls any slack out of the connection and so creates a very strong attachment for the components which improves accuracy. This is possible with a small sized component suitable for many applications. The speed with which the two components can be disconnected using the disclosure is also beneficial.

[0087] In FIG. 1, a surgical component 1, in an orthopaedic surgery context, is provided with a stem 3 carrying a male thread 5. In this case a 6 mm thread is being used, but the disclosure can accommodate different thread pitches as necessary.

[0088] The component 1 is shown connected to a connecting device 10, provided according to the disclosure. The part of component 1 shown is representative of a part of any of the different surgical components possible, thus the component 1 may be a tool or instrument, a surgical implant, a surgical fixing or an intermediate component [such as an adaptor] provided between the distal component and the connecting device 10.

[0089] In FIG. 1, a first state for the connecting device 10 is shown. In this first state, the connecting device 10 is connected to the component 1 via a threaded engagement. The threaded engagement is formed by the interaction of the thread 5 of the component 1 with the thread 12 provided on the connecting device 10. In the illustrative embodiment, the thread 12 has two sections. A first section 14 of the thread 12 is provided on the inner surface 16 of a first surgical component engaging element, which is identified as a first sliding element 18. In opposition to this is a mirror image second surgical component engaging element [not shown] and having a second section 15 of the thread 12 on its inner surface. The first part 14 and the second part being in opposition forms a full and complete threaded engagement offering the robust connection levels desired of the arrangement. The first sliding element 18 and the second sliding element correspond in this embodiment in terms of their features, operation and interrelationship with other elements. Instead of the first sliding element 18 and the second sliding element in direct opposition with one another, it would be possible to space, evenly or unevenly, sliding elements around the perimeter of the connecting device, provided there was some extent of opposing abutment/engagement with the component 1.

[0090] Referring to FIG. 2a, the first sliding element 18 and hence its inner surface 16 and the first part 14 of the thread 12 are held in position, in the first state, as follows. The first sliding element 18 extends radially from the inner surface 16 to an outer surface 20. Between the inner surface 16 and the outer surface 20, a mount, exemplified by an aperture 22 through the first sliding element 18 is provided. The aperture 22 receives a connector, exemplified by pin 400, shown in FIG. 4. The pin 400 also passes through a second mount, exemplified by an elongate slot 24 provided on a rib 26 depending from a support element, exemplified here as an external ring element 28. The elongate slot 24 is inclined relative to the central axis A-A of the connecting device 10. The slot 24 is at a greater diametric distance D1 closer towards the distal end 30 of the connecting device 10 and a lesser diametric distance D2 further from the distal end 30 and towards the proximal end 32 of the connecting device 10. In effect, the slot 24 provides a ramp away from the axis A-A towards the distal end 30 of the connecting device 10. In the first state, the pin is at the lesser radial distance D2.

[0091] The external ring element 28 is mounted on the outside of a body element, exemplified here by a shaft 34, in a slidable manner. The external ring element 28 is capable of axial movement relative to the shaft 34, but with the axial position of the shaft 34 fixed [see the difference in position in FIGS. 2a and 2b]. The shaft 34 is provided with a shaft slot 38 that extends through the wall thickness of the shaft 34. The shaft slot 38 also extends along a length of the shaft 34. The rib 26 provided on the external ring element 28 depends inward therefrom and is provided to one side of the shaft slot 38, such that the adjacent first sliding element 18 is able to extend radially inward into a bore 42 extending along the axis A-A of the connecting device 10. This presents the first part 14 of the thread 12 to the thread 5 of the component 1 when that is present in the bore 42. An opposing, but equivalent structure is provided for the second sliding element [not shown].

[0092] A spring 402, shown in FIG. 4, is provided to urge axially the external ring element 28 towards the distal end 30 of the shaft 34 [the FIG. 2a position] and to resist movement axially of the external ring element 28 towards the proximal end 32 of the shaft 34 [the FIG. 2b position].

[0093] When the user desires to disconnect the connecting device 10 from the component 1, the connecting device 10 is transitioned from the first state to a second state; the second state providing a released state. The second state is shown in FIG. 2b.

[0094] During the transition, the external ring element 28 is slid away from the distal end 30 of the connecting device 10 and towards the proximal end [not shown] of the connecting device 10 as indicated by arrows 200 in FIG. 2a. The sliding motion causes the elongate slot 24 to move axially and the inclination of the slot 24 causes outward radial movement of the pins 400 and hence of the first sliding element 18 and the second sliding element. This radial movement out and away from the central bore 42 removes the sections of thread 12 from engagement with the thread 5 on the component 1. The elongate slot 24 is configured such that the movement of the sections of female thread 12 are sufficient radially so as to provide no interference with axial relative movement of the component 1 and connecting device 10 remain. A very fast, easily operated and reliable transition from the first state to the second state is provided to give the desired release.

[0095] The annular extent of the shaft slot 38 is only slightly greater than the thickness of the first sliding element 18 and so the sides of the shaft slot 38 lock the external ring element 28 in a fixed angular position relative to the shaft 34. Sliding movement is possible, but not rotation.

[0096] To transition from the second state to the first state, the external ring element 28 is slide towards the distal end of the shaft 34 and so causes the inward radial movement of the first sliding element 18 and second sliding element, together with their sections of female thread 12. Rotation of the shaft 34 then causes rotation of the first and second sliding elements and the sections of thread 12 and so causes and increases engagement with the male thread 5 on the stem 3 to provide the engagement.

[0097] In an embodiment of the disclosure, not shown, the inward radial movement of the first sliding element 18 and the second sliding element to the first state positions and/or the maintenance of those first state positions may be assisted by one or more biasing elements. These may be mounted on the external ring element and act on the sliding elements. The biasing element may be a spring or a deformable component. The biasing element may be deformed during transition from the first state to the second state and so may promote the return of the sliding elements to the first state positions.

[0098] As a consequence, the disclosure provides a reliable connection mechanism, which offers the robust and reliable connection of a threaded system, but at the same time is far faster to disengage. The nut element can be very rapidly released and then axially disengaged.

[0099] FIG. 3 provides an illustration of a connecting device 110 embodying the present disclosure. The distal end 130 of the connecting device 110 provides the central bore 42 and fastening mechanism in the manner described above. The external ring element 28 is provided within an outer housing 150 to provide clean lines for the device and contain the mechanism. The proximal end 152 of the connecting device 110 is provided with a rotatable element 154 which, on rotation in a first direction, causes rotation of the external ring element 28, the rib 26, first sliding element 18 and second sliding element, together with the sections of thread 12 and hence the engagement between the connecting device 10 and the component 1. A spring 402 urges the external ring element 28 to remain at the distal end 130 and so maintains the first sliding element 18 and second sliding element in the first state.

[0100] Pulling back on the external ring element 28, against the spring 402, causes the external ring element 28 to move towards the proximal end 152 of the connecting device 110 and so moves the pins 400 axially and hence the first sliding element 18 and the second sliding element outward radially and hence causes the transition to the second, released state. The connecting device 110 can then be axially retracted off the component 1.

[0101] FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b provide an exploded view of a similar connecting device 210, together with a surgical component 201 and stem 203. In this case, the outer housing 250 provides the same clean lines for the for the device and allows the user to hold the device. The rotatable element 254 is provided at the distal end 230 and includes the external ring element 228, the rib 226, providing the mounting for the first sliding element 218 by way of pin 500. The second sliding element 502 is also present together with the pin 504 used to mount it too. The sections of thread 212, the provide the engagement between the connecting device 210 and the component 201, are visible. A spring 402 urges the external ring element 228 to remain at the distal end 230 and so maintains the first sliding element 218 and second sliding element 502 in the first state.

[0102] Pulling back on the external ring element 228, against the spring 402, causes the external ring element 228 to move towards the proximal end 252 of the connecting device 210 and so moves the pins 500, 504 axially and hence the first sliding element 218 and the second sliding element 502 outward radially and hence causes the transition to the second, released state. The connecting device 210 can then be axially retracted off the component 201.