# US 9,433,406 B2 · Clamp ring > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,433,406 B2 - Document ID: US9433406B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/732,135 - Filed: 2015-06-05 - Published: 2015-12-10 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-06-06 - Assignees: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC - Applicants: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC - Inventors: Paul Slagle; Kevin Stone; Jacy Hoeppner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433406B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/0293: {with ring member to support retractor elements} - A61B 90/50: Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms - A61B 90/57: Accessory clamps - F16M 13/02: for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle - A61B 17/0206: {with antagonistic arms as supports for retractor elements} - A61B 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS ## Abstract A clamp ring includes a generally arced portion. The generally arced portion has a top half and a bottom half each having a guide channel formed therein, the top half and the bottom half each have an exterior portion and an interior portion defining boundaries of the guide channels. The interior portions together have a partially circular cross section with a number of interior reliefs formed therein and the exterior portions together have a partially circular cross section with a number of exterior reliefs formed therein that is greater than zero and equal to or greater than the number of interior reliefs formed in the interior portions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A clamp ring, comprising: a generally arced portion arced within a plane, said generally arced portion having a top half and a bottom half disposed on opposite sides of the plane, the top half and bottom half each having a guide channel formed therein, said top half and said bottom half each having an exterior portion and an interior portion defining boundaries of said guide channels, said interior portions together having a partially circular cross section with a number of interior reliefs formed therein and said exterior portions together having a partially circular cross section with a number of exterior reliefs formed therein that is greater than zero and one of equal to and greater than said number of interior reliefs formed in said interior portions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The clamp ring according to claim 1, wherein said interior portions have at least one interior relief formed continuously with said guide channel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The clamp ring according to claim 2, wherein said exterior portions have at least one exterior relief formed continuously with said guide channel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The clamp ring according to claim 3, wherein said exterior portions have at least one exterior relief spaced apart from said guide channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The clamp ring according to claim 1, wherein said top half and said bottom half each include at least one visual indicator formed in said guide channel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The clamp ring according to claim 1, further comprising at least one straight portion continuous with said generally arced portion, said at least one straight portion having a top half and a bottom half each having a guide channel formed therein, said top half and said bottom half each having an exterior portion and an interior portion defining boundaries of said guide channel, said interior portions together having a partially circular cross section and said exterior portions together having a partially circular cross section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The clamp ring according to claim 6, wherein said at least one straight portion has no reliefs formed therein. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The clamp ring according to claim 6, wherein said exterior portions and said interior portions each allow continuous sliding of a clamp body along an entire length of said generally arced portion and said at least one straight portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The clamp ring according to claim 1, wherein said number of interior reliefs is greater than zero. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The clamp ring according to claim 1, wherein said exterior portions and said interior portions each allow continuous sliding of a clamp body along an entire length of said generally arced portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The clamp ring according to claim 1, wherein said exterior portions have at least two exterior reliefs formed therein. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The clamp ring according to claim 1, wherein said interior portions have at least one interior relief formed therein, said at least one interior relief being shallower than at least one of said exterior reliefs. ### Claim 13 A clamp ring, comprising: a generally arced portion arced within a plane, said generally arced portion having a top half and a bottom half disposed on opposite sides of the plane, said top half and said bottom half each having a curved track formed thereon; and at least one straight portion continuous with said generally arced portion, said at least one straight portion having a top half and a bottom half each having a straight track formed thereon continuous with said curved tracks, wherein continuous straight tracks and curved tracks form ring tracks each defining a track length, said ring tracks allowing a clamp to continuously slide along said track lengths. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The clamp ring according to claim 13, wherein said generally arced portion and said at least one straight portion each have an exterior side and an interior side defining boundaries of said ring tracks, at least one of said generally arced portion and said at least one straight portion allowing a clamp to slide along said exterior side simultaneously with a clamp sliding along said interior side. ### Claim 15 A clamp ring, comprising: a generally arced portion arced within a plane, said generally arced portion having a top half and a bottom half disposed on opposite sides of the plane, the top half and bottom half each having at least one guide channel formed therein, said top half and said bottom half each having an exterior portion and an interior portion each defining a boundary of at least one guide channel, said interior portions together having a partially circular cross section with a number of interior reliefs formed therein and said exterior portions together having a partially circular cross section with a number of exterior reliefs formed therein that is greater than zero and one of equal to and greater than said number of interior reliefs formed in said interior portions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The clamp ring according to claim 15, further comprising at least one straight portion continuous with said generally arced portion, said at least one straight portion having a top half and a bottom half each having at least one guide channel formed therein, said top half and said bottom half each having an exterior portion and an interior portion each defining a boundary of at least one guide channel, said interior portions together having a partially circular cross section and said exterior portions together having a partially circular cross section. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The clamp ring according to claim 16, wherein said at least one straight portion has no reliefs formed therein. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The clamp ring according to claim 16, wherein said exterior portions and said interior portions each allow continuous sliding of a clamp body along an entire length of said generally arced portion and said at least one straight portion.