Hanging apparatus for fixing a medical device to a substantially horizontal or substantially vertical support structure
View Patent ↗A hanging apparatus is provided that facilitates the attachment of a medical instrument to a support structure. The mechanism includes a generally longitudinal, telescoping assembly that extends outward from the back of the medical instrument and positions a rotatable arm to serve as one face of a clamp, opposing the back of the medical instrument as the second face of the clamp. The mechanism assembly includes a cylindrical shaft that extends outward against the tension force of a spring from a housing component of the assembly. A cam mechanism within the hanging apparatus allows for locking and tightening of the clamp against the support structure after closure of the clamp under the influence of the tensioning spring.
1. A medical device hanging apparatus for facilitating the removable attachment of a medical instrument alternately to a vertical or a horizontal longitudinal support structure, the hanging apparatus comprising:
a clamp shaft, the clamp shaft rotatable about a central longitudinal axis and comprising a cylindrical tube fixed with a clamp arm extending orthogonally from the clamp shaft;
an internal shaft, the internal shaft comprising a longitudinal hollow structure positioned in telescoping fashion within the cylindrical tube of the clamp shaft;
a clamp knob, the knob fixed to a first end of the internal shaft, as the internal shaft extends through the clamp shaft, in a manner that positions the clamp arm generally between the knob and the balance of the longitudinal clamp shaft;
a tension spring, the spring positioned within and generally extending the length of the internal shaft, the spring fixed at a first end thereof to the first end of the internal shaft;
a clamp housing, the housing comprising a longitudinal enclosure generally surrounding the clamp shaft and providing an aperture through which the clamp shaft extends, the clamp arm and the knob positioned external to the housing, a second end of the tension spring fixed to a point on the housing distal to the aperture such that telescoping withdrawal of the clamp shaft through the aperture is resisted by the tension spring, the clamp housing fixed in association with the medical instrument; and
a rotational cam mechanism, the cam mechanism positioned between the clamp housing and the internal shaft wherein rotation of the internal shaft, as effected by rotation of the knob, directs a longitudinal movement of the internal shaft, the attached knob, and therefore the clamp arm, in a manner that tends to close the hanging apparatus.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cam mechanism further comprises:
first and second cam members fixed to the internal shaft and having complementary inclined surfaces;
a locking member rotatably positioned on the internal shaft between the complementary inclined surfaces of the first and second cam members, the locking member including a plurality of teeth.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:
a first plurality of teeth fixed to the clamp housing and positioned along the longitudinal enclosure of the clamp housing;
wherein the internal shaft includes a substantially flat surface;
wherein the cam mechanism further comprises:
first and second cam members fixed to the internal shaft and having complementary inclined surfaces; and
a locking member rotatably positioned on the internal shaft between the complementary inclined surfaces of the first and second cam members and including a second plurality of teeth, the locking member being positioned on the substantially flat surface of the internal shaft when the internal shaft is in an unlocked position, the locking member being moved off of the substantially flat surface when the internal shaft is rotated into a locked position such that the second plurality of teeth lockingly engage the first plurality of teeth.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein subsequent rotation of the internal shaft after being placed in the locked position results in a longitudinal movement of the internal shaft as the locking member follows the inclined surfaces of the first and second cam members.
5. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the first plurality of teeth are disposed on a housing cover of the clamp housing.
6. A medical device hanging apparatus for facilitating the removable attachment of a medical instrument alternately to a vertical or a horizontal longitudinal support structure, the hanging apparatus comprising:
a clamp housing defining a longitudinal enclosure along which are positioned a first plurality of teeth;
a clamp shaft retractably positioned within the longitudinal enclosure, the clamp shaft being rotatable about a central longitudinal axis and comprising a cylindrical tube fixed with a clamp arm extending from the clamp shaft;
an internal shaft having a substantially flat surface rotatably positioned within the cylindrical tube of the clamp shaft;
first and second cam members fixed to the internal shaft and having complementary inclined surfaces; and
a locking member rotatably positioned on the internal shaft between the complementary inclined surfaces of the first and second cam members and including a second plurality of teeth, the locking member being positioned on the substantially flat surface of the internal shaft when the internal shaft is in an unlocked position, the locking member being moved off of the substantially flat surface when the internal shaft is rotated into a locked position such that the second plurality of teeth lockingly engage the first plurality of teeth.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein subsequent rotation of the internal shaft after being placed in the locked position results in a longitudinal movement of the internal shaft relative to the clamp housing as the locking member follows the inclined surfaces of the first and second cam members.