Surgery – Instruments – Stereotaxic device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-30
2001-08-21
Manahan, Todd E. (Department: 3732)
Surgery
Instruments
Stereotaxic device
Reexamination Certificate
active
06277127
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to medical instruments and, more particularly, to a support on which a medical instrument can be releasably held in a predetermined orientation.
2. Background Art
It is common, during medical procedures, to place an object at the working end of a medical instrument. As an example, it is known to place a needle at the working end of an instrument in preparation for a suturing procedure. In my co-pending application (Ser. No. not assigned), there is disclosed a method of suturing involving the pre-forming of various knots at the working end of an instrument which can then be directed into a cavity for suturing at a desired site.
Manipulation of this type of instrument during these procedures may be awkward. This is particularly true of laparoscopic instruments which have a substantial length. The user may be required to attempt to hold the instrument with one hand and pre-form a knot, or perform whatever other step(s) is required at the working end, with the other hand. Alternatively, two sets of hands may be used to perform these procedures.
In any event, the instrument, whether held by one or two sets of hands, is inherently unstable, and the performance of intricate and delicate steps thereon may be difficult and relatively time consuming. This is contrary to the overriding objective of instrument designers to make instruments so as to facilitate the consistent performance of procedures therewith in a time efficient manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is directed to the combination of a medical instrument, having a main body, and a support. The support includes a base, a seating assembly on the base having a first seating surface against which the main body of the medical instrument abuts with the medical instrument in the operative position on the support, and a keeper assembly. The keeper assembly is mounted for guided movement relative to the base between a first position, wherein the keeper assembly maintains the medical instrument in the operative position, and a second position, wherein the medical instrument can be removed from the operative position.
The base may include a flat surface which can be placed against a subjacent surface.
In one form, the first seating surface is fixed relative to the base.
In one form, the seating assembly includes a first post projecting from the base. The first seating surface is U-shaped. The keeper assembly includes a first body with a first shoulder that abuts to the medical instrument in the operative position, with the keeper assembly in the first position.
The first body and first post may be movable guidingly, one inside the other.
In one form, the seating assembly includes first and second posts each projecting from the base. The first seating surface is U-shaped. The seating assembly further includes a U-shaped second seating surface against which the main body of the medical instrument abuts with the medical instrument in the operative position on the support. The keeper assembly includes a first body with a first shoulder that abuts to the medical instrument in the operative position with the keeper assembly in the first position. A second body has a second shoulder that abuts to the medical instrument in the operative position with the keeper assembly in the first position.
In one form, a connector is connected between the first and second bodies so that the connector and first and second bodies move as one piece as the keeper assembly changes between the first and second positions.
In one form, the first body and first post and second body and second post are movable guidingly, one inside the other as the keeper assembly changes between the first and second positions.
The keeper assembly may be biased towards the first position. In one form, this bias is produced by a coil spring that surrounds the first post and acts between the base and the first body.
In one form, the first U-shaped seating surface opens in a first direction and the first body has an outer surface with a central axis and a diameter. The diameter of the outer surface varies smoothly so that the medical instrument can be guided against the outer surface oppositely to the first direction up to and past the first shoulder and against the first U-shaped seating surface.
In one form, the first U-shaped seating surface has a portion that extends radially from the central axis further than the outer surface at the first shoulder so that as the main body moves against the outer surface oppositely to the first direction up to and past the first shoulder, the main body encounters the portion of the first U-shaped surface.
The invention is also directed to a support for a medical instrument having a base, a seating assembly, and a keeper assembly. The base has a surface to facing in one direction to abut a surface upon which the support is placed. The seating assembly includes a first post projecting from the base and having a first U-shaped seating surface opening in the one direction and against which a medical instrument can be abutted with the medical instrument in an operative position on the support. The keeper assembly includes a first body with a first shoulder that is movable guidingly relative to the base between a first position, wherein the first shoulder, in conjunction with the first seating surface, cooperatively captively maintains a medical instrument in the operative position, and a second position, wherein a medical instrument can be placed in and removed from the operative position by movement relative to the first seating surface in the one direction and oppositely to the one direction.
In one form, the first body and first post are movable guidingly, one against the other, as the keeper assembly moves between the first and second positions.
The seating assembly may include a second post projecting from the base, with the keeper assembly including a second body, and the second post and second body are movable guidingly, one inside the other, as the keeper assembly moves between the first and second positions. The first and second posts each have a length, with the lengths of the first and second posts being substantially parallel to each other.
In one form, a connector connects between the first and second bodies so that the connector and first and second bodies move as one piece as the keeper assembly changes between the first and second positions.
The keeper assembly may be spring biased towards the first position. The connector may have a length sufficient to allow a user to place a plurality of fingers thereagainst and reposition the connector to thereby urge the keeper assembly towards the second position.
The invention is also directed to a method of using a medical instrument having a main body. The method includes the steps of: providing a support having a base, a seating assembly having a U-shaped seating surface, and a keeper assembly with a first shoulder that is movable guidingly relative to the base between first and second positions; placing the keeper assembly in the second position; directing the main body of the medical instrument against the seating surface to thereby place the medical instrument in an operative position; with the medical instrument in the operative position changing the keeper assembly into the first position so that the keeper assembly maintains the medical instrument in the operative position; and with the medical instrument maintained in the operative position, performing an operation on the medical instrument.
In one form, the medical instrument has a working end and the step of performing an operation includes one of a) forming a knot at the working end and b) placing an element at the working end.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5006122 (1991-04-01), Wyatt et al.
patent: 5047036 (1991-09-01), Koutrouvelis
patent: 5074858 (1991-12-01), Ramos Martinez
patent: 5441042 (1995-08-01), Putman
patent: 5704900 (1998-01-01), Dobrovolny et al.
Manahan Todd #E.
Robert Eduardo C.
Wood Phillips VanSanten Clark & Mortimer
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