Surgical head clamping device

Details Surgical head clamping device Surgical head clamping device

1999-09-17

2001-01-30

Smith, Jeffrey A. (Department: 3732)

Surgery

Instruments

Stereotaxic device

C602S037000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06179846

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to head or skull clamping and holding devices used in surgery on the head of a patient and, more specifically, to an improved design for such devices that facilitates placement of the head in the clamp so as to more securely hold the head in position during a surgical procedure and allow adjustment of the head during an operation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It has long been the practice in neurosurgery to employ a three point clamp on the head of a patient to securely locate and hold the head in place during surgery. In the prior art devices, pins mounted on one or more adjustable arms are forced into the skull of the patient to positively grip the skull so that subsequent movement is not possible. This is important in neurosurgery since, in many procedures, the patient is not fully sedated but remains conscious to enable responses to probes to be evaluated by the medical staff.
The use of three arms to support three penetrating pins introduces a complication that has proved unnecessary in the installation of the prior art skull clamps. This is the case primarily because such clamps could not provide accurate alignment of two of the skull engaging pins for all head sizes. In many arrangements, there was no possibility of aligning two oppositely disposed pins. In other systems, the ability to align two of the pins relied on the use of complicated structure that occupied an unacceptable amount of space in the vicinity of the patient's skull and was difficult to both put in place and to adjust during a surgical procedure. It is well recognized that surgical staff must have the maximum space available to move about a patient during surgery particularly in the event of unforeseen complications arising. With several available clamping apparatus, freedom of movement about the patient was curtailed due to the obstructions caused by the skull clamping apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a surgical head clamp that is much easier to install in a secure manner. Also, while providing three point contact, the clamp of the present invention utilizes a much simpler support structure which will maximize the maneuvering space in the vicinity of the patient's head available to the surgeon and support staff.
The foregoing objects are attained by providing two pairs of articulatable arms with each pair having one end pivotally mounted on a single yoke. The opposite or free ends of each pair on one side of the yoke carries a pivot mount for a pin carrier which is typically a threaded bore and which receives a skull engaging pin. Each articulatable arm is provided with a plurality of threaded bores for accommodating a third pin. Structure is provided to ensure that the pins carried by the pivot mount on the arms are maintained in substantially perfect alignment whatever the separation of the free ends of the arms. This is accomplished without compromising the simplicity of the clamping structure so that a maximum maneuvering space will be afforded the surgeon and medical staff during a surgical procedure. Also, installation of clamp will be much simpler than the three arm clamps of the prior art while allowing the clamp to accommodate the same or a much greater range of skull sizes.
These advantages as well as others will become apparent as consideration is given to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:


REFERENCES:
patent: 1967471 (1934-07-01), Ettinger
patent: 2266628 (1941-12-01), Finochietto
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patent: 4108426 (1978-08-01), Lindstroem et al.
patent: 4501267 (1985-02-01), Pecheux
patent: 5330485 (1994-07-01), Clayman et al.
patent: 1171021 (1985-08-01), None

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