Stabilized table rail clamp

A clamping device for retaining a retractor support apparatus over an operating table, the operating table having a side rail, the clamping device comprising:

• a U-shaped member having first and second legs, the legs being disposed on opposite sides of the side rail;
• first and second rods threadably engaging the U-shaped member with the first threaded rod positioned above the side rail and the second threaded rod being positioned below the side rail, each of the rods having distal ends for acting against the operating table such that when the threaded rods are turned, the first and second legs are forced against the side rail, frictionally engaging the side rail and holding the U-shaped member in a clamped position against the side rail;
• and
• a clamping plate rotatably engaged by the distal ends of the first and second rods and positioned against the operating table to engage the operating table when at least one of the threaded rods is turned.

A clamping device for retaining a retractor support apparatus over an operating table, the operating table having a side rail, the clamping device comprising:

• a first clamp plate disposed between the side rail and a side of the operating table;
• a second clamp plate disposed between the first clamp plate and the operating table wherein the second clamp plate engages the side of the operating table;
• a first force providing mechanism operably connected to the first clamp plate and the second clamp plate, the force providing mechanism providing a clamping force to the first clamp plate by interacting with the second clamp plate such that the first clamp plate is positioned in a first position wherein the first clamp plate frictionally engages the side rail, wherein the first force providing mechanism comprises:
• a first bore disposed in the second clamp plate;
• a first threaded bore disposed through the first clamp plate, wherein the first threaded bore is aligned with the first bore;
• a first threaded bolt threadably engaging the first threaded bore and operably engaging the first bore such that manipulation of the first threaded bolt positions the first clamp plate into either the first position where the first clamp plate frictionally engages the side rail or a second position wherein the first clamp plate does not frictionally engage the side rail;
• a top member attached to the first clamp plate;
• and
• a retaining member attached to the top member wherein the retaining member is spaced apart from the first clamp plate wherein the first clamp plate, the top member and the retaining member define a slot which slidably engages the side rail.

A clamping device for retaining a retractor support apparatus over an operating table, the operating table having a side rail, the clamping device comprising:

• a first clamp plate disposed between the side rail and a side of the operating table;
• a second clamp plate disposed between the first clamp plate and the operating table wherein the second clamp plate engages the side of the operating table;
• a first force providing mechanism operably connected to the first clamp plate and the second clamp plate, the force providing mechanism providing a clamping force to the first clamp plate by interacting with the second clamp plate such that the first clamp plate is positioned in a first position wherein the first clamp plate frictionally engages the side rail;
• and
• a second force providing mechanism operably connected to both the second clamp plate and the first clamp plate a distance from the first force providing mechanism, the second force providing mechanism providing a force to both the second clamp plate and the first clamp plate such that the first clamp plate frictionally engages the side rail.