IP Library Granted Patent US 7,794,469
Granted Patent B2
US 7,794,469 · App. 11/594,700 · Granted Sep 14, 2010

Adjustable universal surgical platform

Assignee: Vanderbilt University
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,794,469
App. No.
11/594,700
Granted
Sep 14, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A surgical platform usable for performing a surgical procedure. In one embodiment, the surgical platform comprises a base portion configured to receive at least one probe; a plurality of adjustable legs configured to support the base portion, each adjustable legs having a first end portion and an opposite, second end potion defining a length therebetween; and at least one movable portion configured to adjust the length of at least one adjustable leg.

Claims (32)

1. A surgical platform, comprising:

a. a ring structure having a first end portion, and an opposite, second end portion, and a body portion therebetween, wherein the body portion defines a housing extending between the first and second end portions;

b. a ball joint configured to be received in the housing of the ring structure and be rotatable around its center, wherein the ball joint defines at least one bore for accommodating a probe therethrough;

c. a plurality of leg assemblies, each leg assembly comprising:

(i). a first leg member having a joint portion detachably connected to the ring structure, an exteriorly threaded shank portion extending away from the joint portion, and an axis through the joint portion and the exteriorly threaded shank portion;

(ii). a second leg member having a joint portion, an exteriorly threaded shank portion extending away from the joint portion, and an axis through the joint portion and the exteriorly threaded shank portion; and

(iii). a sleeve member having a first end portion and an opposite, second end portion defining a sleeve body therebetween, and an axis through the sleeve body, wherein the sleeve body defines a chamber interiorly threaded for engaging with the first and second leg members, respectively,

wherein as assembled, the threaded shank portions of the first and second leg members are received in the chamber through the first and second end portions of the sleeve member, respectively, such that the axes of the first and second leg members are substantially coincident with the axis of the sleeve member, and the first and second leg members are movable back and forth along the axis of the sleeve member when the sleeve member is being rotated around its axis, thereby adjusting a leg length defined between the joint portion of the first leg member and the joint portion of the second leg member; and

d. a plurality of support members detachably mountable to an anatomical structure, each support members having a ball portion,

wherein the joint portion of the second leg member of each leg assembly comprises a forked structure having a pair of spaced plates and a securing member adjustably mounted onto the pair of spaced plates, each plate defining a hole for accommodating the ball portion of a support member to form a socket-ball joint mechanism therein, and wherein as assembled, the pair of spaced plates of the forked structure of the second leg member of each leg assembly is connected to the ball portion of a corresponding support member through the socket-ball joint mechanism and secured thereto by adjusting the securing member such that the second leg member of the leg assembly is rotatable around the center of the ball portion of the corresponding support member.

2. The surgical platform of claim 1 , further comprising a locking knob located at the body portion of the ring structure and adapted for adjustably locking the ball joint against movement relative to the ring structure.

3. The surgical platform of claim 1 , wherein the joint portion of the first leg member of each leg assembly is connected to the ring structure through a socket-ball joint mechanism.

4. The surgical platform of claim 3 , wherein the ring structure has a plurality of sockets formed in the second end portion, wherein the joint portion of the first leg member of each leg assembly comprises a ball joint, and wherein as assembled, the ball joint of the first leg member of each leg assembly is received by a corresponding socket of the ring structure such that the leg assembly is rotatable around the center of the ball joint.

5. The surgical platform of claim 1 , wherein the ring structure has a first plurality of tabs extending radially and outward from the body portion of the ring structure, each tab defining a hole therein, and a second plurality of sockets formed at the second end portion.

6. The surgical platform of claim 1 , wherein each support member comprises a trackable fiducial marker.

7. The surgical platform of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of leg assemblies are equiangularly apart from each other.

8. The surgical platform of claim 1 made from one or more metallic materials or from one or more plastic materials.

9. A surgical platform, comprising:

a. a ring structure having a first end portion, an opposite, second end portion, and a body portion therebetween, wherein the body portion defines a housing extending between the first and second end portions;

b. a ball joint configured to be received in the housing of the ring structure and be rotatable around the center of the ball joint, wherein the ball joint defines at least one bore for accommodating a probe therethrough;

c. a plurality of leg assemblies connected to the ring structure, each leg assembly comprising:

(i). a first leg member and a second leg member, each of the first and second leg members having a joint portion and a shank portion extending from the joint portion, respectively; and

(ii). a sleeve member having a first end portion and an opposite, second end portion defining a sleeve body therebetween, and an axis through sleeve body, wherein the sleeve body defines a chamber,

wherein as assembled, the shank portions of the first and second leg members are received by the chamber through the first and second end portions of the sleeve member, respectively, such that the first and second leg members and the sleeve member are coaxial, and at least one of the first and second leg members is movable back and forth along the axis of the sleeve member when the sleeve member is rotated around the axis, thereby adjusting a leg length defined between the joint portion of the first leg member and the joint portion of the second leg member; and

d. a plurality of support members detachably mountable to an anatomical structure, each support members having a ball portion,

wherein the joint portion of the second leg member of each leg assembly comprises a forked structure having a pair of spaced plates and a securing member adjustably mounted onto the pair of spaced plates, each plate defining a hole for accommodating the ball portion of a support member to form a socket-ball joint mechanism therein, and wherein as assembled, the pair of spaced plates of the forked structure of the second leg member of each leg assembly is connected to the ball portion of a corresponding support member through the socket-ball joint mechanism and secured thereto by adjusting the securing member such that the second leg member of the leg assembly is rotatable around the center of the ball portion of the corresponding support member.

10. The surgical platform of claim 9 , further comprising a locking knob located at the body portion of the ring structure and adapted for adjustably locking the ball joint against movement relative to the ring structure.

11. The surgical platform of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the shank portions of the first and second leg member is exteriorly threaded, and wherein the chamber of the sleeve member has at least one interiorly threaded portion proximate to one of the first and second ends of the sleeve member for engaging with the at least one of the shank portions of the first and second leg member.

12. The surgical platform of claim 9 , wherein the joint portion of the first leg member of each leg assembly is connected to the ring structure through a motion joint mechanism.

13. The surgical platform of claim 9 , wherein the joint portion of the first leg member of each leg assembly is connected to the ring structure through a socket-ball joint mechanism.

14. The surgical platform of claim 9 , wherein each support member comprises a trackable fiducial marker.

15. The surgical platform of claim 9 made from one or more metallic materials or from one or more plastic materials.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 19, 2006
From: KAO, CHANGQUING C.; FITZPATRICK, J. MICHAEL; LABADIE, ROBERT F.; KONRAD, PETER E.
To: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 018653/0718 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 6073405200 · Nov 7, 2005
Related Publication 20070106305A1 · May 10, 2007