# US 10,245,109 B2 · Stereotactic surgical instrument > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,109 B2 - Document ID: US10245109B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/943,904 - Filed: 2015-11-17 - Published: 2016-06-16 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-12 - Assignees: Elekta AB (publ) - Applicants: Elekta AB (Publ) - Inventors: Markus Nyman; Erik Rurling - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245109B2 ## CPC - A61B 90/11: with guides for needles or instruments, e.g. arcuate slides or ball joints - A61B 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A stereotactic surgical instrument for use in stereotactical therapy and surgery and a coupling mechanism for such an instrument is disclosed. The stereotactic surgical instrument includes a semi-circular arc part and a head frame. The head frame is arranged for fixation to a head of a patient by pins or screws. The arc part includes coupling members shaped as rings arranged at a fixed distance from each other for attaching and locking the arc part to the head frame. The head frame includes support members formed as rings for receiving corresponding coupling members. Each coupling member includes a pivotable clamp element arranged to partly surround a respective support member circumferentially when the arc part is coupled to the head frame. The coupling members include locking elements arranged to receive a tip portion of the respective clamp element and adjustable locking knobs for tightening and locking respective coupling member to respective support member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A stereotactic surgical instrument comprising: a semi-circular arc defined by first and second ends configured to be positioned on opposite sides of a patient; and a head frame configured to encompass a head of the patient, wherein the head frame is arranged for fixation to the head of the patient by pins or screws, wherein the first and second ends of the arc comprise coupling members shaped as rings for attaching and locking the arc directly to the head frame, wherein the head frame comprises support members formed as rings for receiving corresponding coupling members, wherein each coupling member includes a pivotable clamp element arranged to partly surround a respective support member circumferentially when the arc is coupled to the head frame, and wherein the coupling members include locking elements arranged to receive a tip portion of the respective clamp element and adjustable locking knobs for tightening and locking a respective coupling member to a respective support member, such that the arc is pivotally fixed to the head frame and can be pivoted in an arc manner to adjust a rotational angle of the arc, where the coupling members enable adjusting and locking of the rotational angle of the arc. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The stereotactic surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein each pivotable clamp element comprises a nose part arranged to co-operate with a respective support member so as to close the clamp element about the support member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The stereotactic surgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein the arc comprises two coupling members fixated to the arc at a fixed distance from each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The stereotactic surgical instrument according claim 2, wherein each support member comprises a guiding part formed as a circular projecting part extending in a circumferential direction, and wherein the guiding part is arranged to receive the nose part of a respective coupling member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The stereotactic surgical instrument according to claim 4, wherein the arc comprises two coupling members fixated to the arc at a fixed distance from each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The stereotactic surgical instrument according to claim 4, wherein the guiding part includes a circular ridge extending in a circumferential direction, and wherein said ridge comprises an oblique section, and a recess extending in the circumferential direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The stereotactic surgical instrument according to claim 6, wherein the clamp element includes a circular ridge extending in a circumferential direction, and wherein said ridge comprises an oblique section, and a recess extending in the circumferential direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The stereotactic surgical instrument according to claim 6, wherein the arc comprises two coupling members fixated to the arc at a fixed distance from each other. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The stereotactic surgical instrument according to claim 4, wherein the clamp element includes a circular ridge extending in a circumferential direction, and wherein said ridge comprises an oblique section, and a recess extending in the circumferential direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The stereotactic surgical instrument according to claim 9, wherein the arc comprises two coupling members fixated to the arc at a fixed distance from each other. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The stereotactic surgical instrument according to claim 9, wherein the ridge and recess of the clamp element are arranged to mate with a corresponding recess and ridge of the support member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The stereotactic surgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein the arc comprises two coupling members fixated to the arc at a fixed distance from each other. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The stereotactic surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the arc comprises two coupling members fixated to the arc at a fixed distance from each other. ### Claim 14 A coupling mechanism for coupling or attaching a semi-circular arc rigidly to a head frame of a stereotactic surgical instrument for use in stereotactic surgery, wherein the head frame is arranged for fixation to a head of a patient by means of pins or screws and is configured to encompass the head of the patient, wherein the semi-circular arc is defined by first and second ends configured to be positioned on opposite sides of the patient, wherein the first and second ends of the arc comprise coupling members shaped as rings for locking the arc directly to the head frame, wherein the head frame comprises support members formed as rings for receiving corresponding coupling members, wherein each coupling member includes a pivotable clamp element arranged to partly surround a respective support member circumferentially when the arc is coupled to the head frame, and wherein the coupling members include locking elements arranged to receive a tip portion of the respective clamp element and adjustable locking knobs for tightening and locking a respective coupling member to a respective support member, such that the arc is pivotally fixed to the head frame and can be pivoted in an arc manner to adjust a rotational angle of the arc, where the coupling members enable adjusting and locking of the rotational angle of the arc. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The coupling mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each pivotable clamp element comprises a nose part arranged to co-operate with a respective support member so as to close the clamp element about the support member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The coupling mechanism according claim 15, wherein each support member comprises a guiding part formed as a circular recess on an outer surface of the support member, and wherein the guiding part is arranged to receive the nose part of a respective coupling member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The coupling mechanism according to claim 16, wherein the guiding part includes a circular ridge extending in a circumferential direction, and wherein said ridge comprises an oblique section, and a recess extending in the circumferential direction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The coupling mechanism according to claim 16, wherein the clamp element includes a circular ridge extending in a circumferential direction, and wherein said ridge comprises an oblique section, and a recess extending in the circumferential direction. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The coupling mechanism according to claim 18, wherein the ridge and recess of the clamp element are arranged to mate with a corresponding recess and ridge of the support member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The coupling mechanism according to claim 14, wherein the arc comprises two coupling members fixated to the arc at a fixed distance between each other.