System and method for releasably holding a surgical instrument

US 20070021776A1

(io) Pub. No.: US 2007/0021776 Al (43) Pub. Date: Jan. 25, 2007

(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RELEASABLY HOLDING A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT

(75) Inventors: Joel F. Jensen, Redwood City, CA

(US); Philip S. Green, Palo Alto, CA
(US)

Correspondence Address:

TOWNSEND AND TOWNSEND AND CREW,
LLP

TWO EMBARCADERO CENTER
EIGHTH FLOOR

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111-3834 (US)
(73) Assignee: SRI International, Menlo Park, CA

(21) Appl. No.: 11/522,576

(22) Filed: Sep. 18, 2006

Related U.S. Application Data

(60) Continuation of application No. 11/195,494, filed on Aug. 1, 2005.

Continuation of application No. 10/265,285, filed on Oct. 4, 2002, which is a continuation of application No. 09/521,253, filed on Mar. 8, 2000, now Pat. No. 6,461,372, and which is a division of application No. 09/105,706, filed on Jun. 26, 1998, now Pat. No. 6,080,181, and which is a division of application No. 08/848,934, filed on May 1, 1997, now Pat. No.

5,810,880, and which is a division of application No. 08/485,587, filed on Jun. 7, 1995, now Pat. No. 5,649,956.

Publication Classification

(51) Int. CI.

A61B 17/00 (2006.01)

(52) U.S. CI 606/205

(57) ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to a system and method for releasably holding a surgical instrument (14), such as an endoscopic instrument configured for delivery through a small percutaneous penetration in a patient. The instrument comprises an elongate shaft (100) with a pair of mounting pins (116) laterally extending from the shaft between its proximal and distal ends. An instrument holder comprises a support having a central bore (202) and an axially extending slot (204) for receiving the instrument shaft and the mounting pins. Apair of locking slots (206) are cut into the support transversely to and in communication with the axial slot so that the mounting pins can be rotated within the locking slots. The instrument support further includes a latch assembly for automatically locking the mounting pins within the locking slots to releasably couple the instrument to the instrument holder. With this twist-lock motion, the surgeon can rapidly engage and disengage various instruments from the holder during a surgical procedure, such as open surgery, laparoscopy or thoracoscopy.