Dual-axis endoscope holder
OwnerRichard F. Kronnerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cannula and associated endoscope are secured to an operating table by a mechanical linkage assembly having linear and angular connections. These connections are adjustable for supporting an endoscope extending through an incision. Two angular connections are friction joints that allow manual repositioning of the scope by pivoting about respective orthogonal axes that intersect at a point along the scope that is coincident with the location of the incision.
Claims14
An endoscope supporting apparatus for supporting an endoscope extending along a scope axis through an incision region corresponding to an incision in a patient positioned adjacent to an external frame comprising:
- a base fixedly mountable on the external frame;
- a holder fixedly mountable to the endoscope for supporting the endoscope with the scope axis extending through the incision region;
- and
- articulating means coupling said base to said holder for restraining movement of said holder to motion only about a plurality of non-parallel axes that pass through the incision region.
An endoscope supporting apparatus for supporting an endoscope extending through a region containing an incision in a patient positioned on a surgical table having a mounting rail, comprising:
- a first clamp fixedly mountable at a position along the mounting rail of the surgical table;
- a first arm;
- a second clamp for fixedly securing said first arm in a selected vertical position relative to said first clamp and in a selected orientation about a vertical first axis;
- a third clamp having a clamp body, said third clamp being mounted on the upper end of said first arm for fixedly securing said clamp body about a horizontal second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis;
- a second arm;
- a first manually operable pivot means mounted on said clamp body for pivoting said second arm about t third axis that is orthogonal to the first axis when the third axis is horizontal and is orthogonal top the second axis when viewed from a plane parallel to both the second and third axes;
- a fourth clamp for fixedly securing said second arm in a selected position along the third axis;
- a holder fixedly mountable to the endoscope for holding the endoscope along a scope axis that intersects the third axis at a given point;
- and
- a second manually operable pivot means mounted on an end of said second arm spaced from said third clamp and selectively a manually attached to said holder for pivoting said holder relative to said second arm about a fourth axis that is orthogonal to and intersects the third axis at the given point;
- whereby an endoscope is manually pivotable about the given point when secured in said holder and said first, second, third and fourth clamps are secured.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.