Surgical instrument including angle adjustment mechanism and quick-connect mechanism

Abstract

An instrument assembly includes a handle and an instrument. The handle includes an inner member and an outer member. The inner member includes a rod and a tip, and the outer member defines a cannulation configured to receive the inner member. In one example, the instrument includes a protrusion, the tip defines a first pocket configured to receive the protrusion, and the cannulation includes a second pocket. When the protrusion is positioned in the first pocket and the outer member is positioned on the inner member with the second pocket spaced apart from the tip, the handle is adjustable at a desired angle relative to the instrument. When the protrusion is positioned in the first pocket and the second pocket engages the tip, the second pocket is configured to compress the tip radially inward such that the first pocket engages the protrusion and locks the handle at the desired angle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A variable angle instrument assembly, comprising:
 a handle including an inner member and an outer member, the inner member including a rod and a tip, the tip defining a first pocket, the outer member defining a cannulation configured to receive the inner member and including a second pocket; and   an instrument including a protrusion, the handle being adjustable at a desired angle relative to the instrument when the protrusion is positioned in the first pocket and the outer member is positioned on the inner member with the second pocket spaced apart from the tip, the outer member being configured to compress the tip radially inward such that the first pocket engages the protrusion and locks the handle at the desired angle when the protrusion is positioned in the first pocket and the second pocket of the outer member engages the tip.   
     
     
         2 . The variable angle instrument assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tip of the inner member is slotted. 
     
     
         3 . The variable angle instrument assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tip of the inner member is spherical. 
     
     
         4 . The variable angle instrument assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second pocket of the outer member includes a conical pocket. 
     
     
         5 . The variable angle instrument assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first pocket in the tip of the inner member is spherical. 
     
     
         6 . The variable angle instrument assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion on the instrument is spherical. 
     
     
         7 . The variable angle instrument assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inner member includes outer threads and the outer member includes inner threads configured to mesh with the outer threads on the inner member. 
     
     
         8 . A variable angle instrument assembly, comprising:
 a handle including an inner member and an outer member, the inner member including a rod and a tip, the tip defining a first pocket, the outer member defining a cannulation configured to receive the inner member and including a second pocket; and   an instrument including a protrusion, wherein:
 when the protrusion is positioned in the first pocket and the outer member is positioned on the inner member with the second pocket spaced apart from the tip, the handle is adjustable to a plurality of angles relative to the instrument; and 
 when the protrusion is positioned in the first pocket and the second pocket engages the tip, the second pocket compresses the tip radially inward such that the first pocket engages the protrusion and locks the handle at one of the plurality of angles. 
   
     
     
         9 . The variable angle instrument assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the cannulation extends from a proximal end of the outer member to a distal end of the outer member. 
     
     
         10 . The variable angle instrument assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the second pocket is disposed at a distalmost end of the outer member. 
     
     
         11 . The variable angle instrument assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the tip of the inner member includes a plurality of fingers separated by slots, the fingers at least partially defining the first pocket. 
     
     
         12 . The variable angle instrument assembly of  claim 11 , wherein when the protrusion is positioned in the first pocket and the second pocket of the outer member engages the tip of the inner member, the second pocket compresses the fingers radially inward such that the first pocket engages the protrusion and locks the handle at the one of the plurality of angles. 
     
     
         13 . The variable angle instrument assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the tip of the inner member includes a plurality of fingers separated by slots, the fingers at least partially defining the first pocket. 
     
     
         14 . The variable angle instrument assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the tip of the inner member extends from a distal end of the rod, and the inner member further includes a knob coupled to a proximal end of the rod. 
     
     
         15 . The variable angle instrument assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the rod of the inner member extends through the cannulation in the outer member and the knob is permanently joined to the proximal end of the rod such that the outer member is captured between the knob and the tip. 
     
     
         16 . A variable angle instrument assembly, comprising:
 an instrument including a protrusion; and   a handle including an inner member and an outer member, the outer member defining a cannulation, the cannulation including a straight portion and a second pocket, the inner member including a rod, a tip extending from a distal end of the rod, and a knob coupled to a proximal end of the rod, the rod extending through the cannulation in the outer member such that the outer member is disposed between the knob and the tip, the tip defining a first pocket configured to receive the protrusion, wherein:
 when the protrusion is positioned in the first pocket and the outer member is positioned on the inner member with the second pocket spaced apart from the tip, the handle is adjustable to a plurality of angles relative to the instrument; and 
 when the protrusion is positioned in the first pocket and the second pocket engages the tip, the second pocket compresses the tip radially inward such that the first pocket engages the protrusion and locks the handle at one of the plurality of angles. 
   
     
     
         17 . The variable angle instrument assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the cannulation includes inner threads disposed adjacent to the second pocket and the inner member includes outer threads disposed adjacent to the tip and configured to engage the inner threads of the cannulation. 
     
     
         18 . The variable angle instrument assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the second pocket engages the tip as the inner and outer threads are tightened relative to one another. 
     
     
         19 . The variable angle instrument assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the tip includes a plurality of fingers separated by slots, the fingers at least partially define the first pocket, and the first pocket and the protrusion are both spherical. 
     
     
         20 . The variable angle instrument assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the second pocket tapers outward from the straight portion to a distal end of the outer member such that the second pocket engages the tip and compresses the fingers radially inward as the outer member is inserted over the inner member.