Rail-mounted stabilizer for surgical instrument
US5597146A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 28, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jan 28, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 28, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2017/00973
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A rail-mountable support assembly includes a universal positioning arm for holding a surgical instrument such as an endoscope or retractor during a surgical procedure. Coarse adjustment of instrument X-Y position across the sterile field above an operating table is provided by an articulated arm which is rotatably coupled to an upright support shaft. Fine adjustment of surgical instrument elevation above the operating table is provided by a reversible drive motor which extends and retracts the instrument along the longitudinal axis of the support arm. The insertion orientation of the instrument is adjustable by a rotatable coupling. Release of the articulated arm for coarse positioning can be performed manually by actuation of an arm-mounted switch, and fine positioning can be performed manually by arm-mounted switches or by foot pressure applied to floor switches by the surgeon.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.