Surgical instrument positioning and securing apparatus

An apparatus for selectively positioning a surgical instrument relative to an operating table, the apparatus comprising:

• a positioning bar capable of being disposed generally around an operating table;
• a plurality of retractor holding devices, each said retractor holding device slidably mounted upon said positioning bar so that each said retractor holding device may be positioned at a predetermined location along said positioning bar, each said retractor holding device further comprising:
• an actuable pivotally flexible column;
• an actuable retractor gripping member pivotally mounted to one end of said flexible column for holding a surgical retractor at some desired attitude relative said flexible column;
• an actuable surgical instrument clamping device operatively communicating with said gripping member adapted to releasably secure a surgical retractor relative to said gripping member;
• and
• an actuable positioning bar locking device pivotally mounted to the other end of said flexible column for securing the retractor holding device to said positioning bar at a predetermined location;
• tensioning means in operative communication with each said retractor holding device for simultaneously actuating said flexible columns, said retractor gripping members, said clamping devices, and said positioning bar locking devices of said retractor holding devices so that in a simultaneous action each of said flexible columns rigidify in some predetermined posture, each of said retractor gripping members maintain a separate surgical retractor at a predetermined attitude, each of said clamping devices clamp a retractor relative said gripping members and each of said positioning bar locking devices lock their associated said retractor holding device at some predetermined position along a positioning bar;
• and
• at least one manual actuation device in operative communication with said tensioning means for controlling said tensioning means.

A surgical retractor positioning and securing device for selectively positioning a retractor at a predetermined location around an operating table and at some predetermined attitude relative the operating table, comprising:

• an operating table positioning bar configured to be disposed generally around an operating table;
• a positioning bar locking device slidably mountable upon said positioning bar, said positioning bar locking device defining a passage therethrough;
• a compressible flexible column with one end thereof pivotally mounted upon said positioning bar locking device, said flexible column including a plurality of generally hollow stacked segments with pivotal frictional interfaces therebetween so that each said segment is freely rotatable relative an adjacent said segment, said segments further configured so that upon being compressed together said segments non-movably secure against each other causing said compressible flexible column to rigidify in a predetermined posture;
• a pivotal head pivotably mounted to the other end of said flexible column with a frictional interface therebetween, said pivotal head defining a recessed retractor seating surface, said seating surface configured to receive a retractor, said pivotal head further defining an operating therethrough;
• a retractor clamping device extending from said pivotal head opening, said retractor clamping device configured to securely hold a retractor against said pivotal head within said recessed retractor seating surface;
• a cable having one end attached to said retractor clamping device, said cable running through the passages said pivotal head, said flexible column, and said positioning bar locking device;
• a piston assembly mounted to said positioning bar locking device, said piston assembly including a piston within a cylinder, the other end of said cable attached to said piston;
• a pressure source directed to the top of said piston so that upon pressurization from said pressure source, said piston is forced to travel within said cylinder simultaneously pulling together said retractor clamping device, said stacked segments, and said positioning bar locking device, and thereby locking said locking device upon said positioning bar at a predetermined location;
• a foot pedal configured in operative communication with a gas valve, said gas valve configured to direct pressurized gas from said pressure source to the top of said piston when said foot pedal is in an unactuated state, and to vent the pressurized gas from said cylinder when said foot pedal is in an actuated state.