US 4,867,404 AGranted

Flexible holder for a cystoscope or the like

AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services

InventorsFrank S. Harrington, Michael J. Manyak

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A flexible holder and clamping assembly for adjustably holding cystoscopes or other endoscopic instruments and retractors or the like adjacent to or on an examination tables or the like is equipped with a unique clamping assembly which permits the holding of various sized instrument shafts. The clamping assembly is equipped with a vertically adjustable spring-biased C-shaped, open-sided region which is urged into a normally open position. The instrument shaft is, after positioning relative to the patient, slid sideways into the C-shaped jaw and retained between the jaw and a pair of circumferentially opposing notches of a tubular housing. The clamp also includes a head portion having various openings and a cavity for receiving the parts and connections of the clamping assembly.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A flexible holder, particularly suited for adjustably mounting and stabilizing a cystoscope or other endoscopic instrument having an elongated shaft comprising:

an elongated horizontally extending base rod having a fixable end and a connectable end;
an elongated flexible post having a clamping end and a connectable end, said clamping end being releasably connected to said connectable end of said base rod;
and
a clamping assembly for holding the shaft of said instrument and first means for rotatably connecting said clamping assembly to said connectable end of said flexible post about a first axis, said clamping assembly, comprising:
a C-shaped, open-sided clamping jaw having an integrally formed, vertically extending upper portion;
a tubular housing for axially slidably receiving said clamping jaw therein, and having an open beveled top wall and an open bottom wall, said bottom wall having circumferentially opposing notches therein, said tubular housing and said clamping jaw being rotatable about a second axis passing therethrough, said second axis being disposed 90.degree. from said first axis;
a head portion having an open top wall, an open bottom wall, and an internal centrally-located cavity;
spring means, positioned between said top wall of said tubular housing and said clamping jaw when said clamping jaw is situated within said tubular housing for biasing said clamping jaw in a downward vertical direction;
and
variable tightening means for axially moving said clamping jaw to a selected position into said tubular housing against the force of said spring means to urge said C-shaped, open-sided clamping jaw against an instrument shaft to abut against said notches of said tubular housing to hold the instrument within said clamping assembly, and without tightening said first means for rotatably connecting said clamping assembly to said flexible post about said first axis.

7 more elements

A holder for adjustably holding and stabilizing an instrument having an elongated shaft after positioning the instrument relative to a patient, comprising:

an elongated flexible post for fixedly mounting at a situs of surgery or examination, and having a proximal mounting end and a distal supporting end;
and
a clamping assembly and first means for rotatably connecting said clamping assembly about a first axis to said distal supporting end of said flexible post, said clamping assembly including
(1) a head portion having a bore extending therethrough along a second axis generally perpendicular to said first axis, and a first bracing and sliding surface adjacent a first end of the bore;
(2) a tubular housing axially aligned with the bore of said head portion and having a second bracing and sliding surface for mating with said first bracing and sliding surface, whereby said tubular housing can rotate relative to said head portion about the second axis;
(3) an axially reciprocable clamping member mounted for axial movement within said tubular housing and said head portion along the second axis, said clamping member having
(i) a C-shaped open jaw portion projecting from an end of said tubular housing opposite said second bracing and sliding surface, said jaw portion having an outside size and configuration corresponding to the inside of said tubular housing;
(ii) a central portion of reduced cross-sectional size compared to said jaw portion and axially attached thereto, said central portion being at least partly received within said tubular housing and being fixed against relative rotation with said tubular housing;
and
(iii) a threaded shaft portion axially attached to said central portion and partly received within the bore of said head portion;
(4) spring means, positioned within said tubular housing and about said central portion of said clamping member, for biasing said jaw portion out of said tubular housing;
and
(5) tightening means on said threaded shaft for axially moving said jaw portion into said tubular housing against the force of said spring means and without tightening said first means for rotatably connecting said clamping assembly to said flexible post.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/197,096Filed 16 May 1988
Granted: 19 Sep 1989
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

F16M 11/2085
Undercarriages with or without wheels: comprising means allowing sideward adjustment, i.e. left-right translation of the head relatively to the…
A61B 17/02
Surgical instruments, devices or methods: for holding wounds open, e.g. retractors; Tractors
A61B 90/50
Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00,…
F16M 11/041
Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand: allowing quick release of the apparatus