Navigation tracker with kinematic connector assembly
AssigneeMAKO Surgical Group
InventorTimothy Wade Perez
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A kinematic connector assembly for kinematically coupling two objects is provided. The kinematic connector assembly comprises a receiver defining a cavity and having a plurality of constraint surfaces accessible in the cavity. The kinematic connector assembly further comprises a key having a triplicity of kinematic elements to repeatably position the key in the receiver. The kinematic connector assembly further comprises a preloading mechanism having a load member movable between a clamped position and an unclamped position to secure the key in the receiver, so that the kinematic elements contact the receiver at the plurality of constraint surfaces such that the key is kinematically constrained to the receiver by being constrained by six points of contact with the receiver.
Claims34
A kinematic connector assembly, said kinematic connector assembly comprising:
- a receiver defining a cavity and having a plurality of constraint surfaces accessible in said cavity;
- a key having a triplicity of kinematic elements to repeatably position said key in said receiver;
- and
- a preloading mechanism operably attached to said receiver and having a load member, said load member disposed in said receiver and arranged to secure said key in said receiver such that said kinematic elements contact said receiver at said plurality of constraint surfaces whereby said key is kinematically constrained to said receiver by being constrained by six points of contact with said receiver.
A kinematic connector assembly comprising:
- a receiver defining a cavity and having a plurality of constraint surfaces defining three channels and accessible in said cavity, wherein two of said channels are parallel;
- a key having a triplicity of kinematic elements to repeatably position said key in said receiver;
- and
- a preloading mechanism having a load member arranged to secure said key in said receiver such that said kinematic elements contact said receiver at said plurality of constraint surfaces whereby said key is kinematically constrained to said receiver by being constrained by six points of contact with said receiver.
A kinematic connector assembly comprising:
- a receiver defining a cavity and having a plurality of constraint surfaces accessible in said cavity;
- a key having a triplicity of kinematic elements to repeatably position said key in said receiver;
- and
- a preloading mechanism comprising:
- a load member movable between a clamped position and an unclamped position and arranged to secure said key in said receiver such that said kinematic elements contact said receiver at said plurality of constraint surfaces;
- and
- a push-button configured to move said load member from said clamped position to said unclamped position;
- wherein said preloading mechanism is configured to urge said key into engagement with said receiver such that said key is kinematically constrained to said receiver by being constrained by six points of contact with said receiver.
A kinematic connector assembly comprising:
- a receiver defining a cavity and having a plurality of constraint surfaces accessible in said cavity;
- a key having a triplicity of kinematic elements to repeatably position said key in said receiver;
- and
- a preloading mechanism comprising a load member having a spherical segment arranged to secure said key in said receiver such that said kinematic elements contact said receiver at said plurality of constraint surfaces whereby said key is kinematically constrained to said receiver by being constrained by six points of contact with said receiver.
A kinematic connector assembly comprising:
- a receiver defining a cavity and having a plurality of constraint surfaces accessible in said cavity;
- a key comprising a post defining a longitudinal axis and a triplicity of kinematic elements to repeatably position said key in said receiver, at least two of said kinematic elements fixed to said post;
- and
- a preloading mechanism having a load member arranged to secure said key in said receiver such that said kinematic elements contact said receiver at said plurality of constraint surfaces whereby said key is kinematically constrained to said receiver by being constrained by six points of contact with said receiver.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.