Trajectory guide with instrument immobilizer
First Claim
1. A method of immobilizing an instrument, including:
- providing a relaxable material having an open first passage;
introducing the instrument into the open first passage; and
reducing an effective area of the material around the instrument by self-relaxing the material to immobilize the instrument with respect to the material.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus accurately maintains alignment of a surgical instrument. The apparatus includes a base with an attached movable member. The movable member includes a passage forming a portion of a trajectory path. A relaxable or rigid material has a similar passage in common with the passage of the movable member. If a relaxable material is used, the passage portion of the relaxable region is held open by an inserted stem removably attached to the movable member. The instrument is then inserted into the center of the stem and thus into the trajectory path. The stem is removed by withdrawing it from the movable member over the proximal portion of the instrument. This releases the relaxable region to tightly hold the instrument in place. Alternatively, using a relaxable or rigid component, the component is slid laterally to at least partially offset a passage through the component from the passage of the movable member to reduce a combined effective area of the passages and to grasp an instrument.
475 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of immobilizing an instrument, including:
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providing a relaxable material having an open first passage;
introducing the instrument into the open first passage; and
reducing an effective area of the material around the instrument by self-relaxing the material to immobilize the instrument with respect to the material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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aiming a spread open first passage to align its axial trajectory with a target;
locking the first passage in an aligned position;
introducing an instrument into the spread open first passage; and
releasing a spread-apart material about the first passage to reduce an effective area of the material around the instrument by self-relaxing the material to immobilize the instrument with respect to the material. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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aiming a spread oven first passage to align its axial trajectory with a target;
locking the first passage in an aligned position;
introducing an instrument into the spread open first passage; and
expanding a material about the first passage to reduce an effective area of the material around the instrument to immobilize the instrument with respect to the material. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of immobilizing an instrument, including:
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providing a relaxable material having a first passage;
introducing the instrument into the first passage;
reducing an effective area of the material around the instrument by self-relaxing the material to immobilize the instrument with respect to the material; and
providing a base and a movable member coupled to the base yet capable of rotating with respect to the base, the movable member including a second passage aligned with the first passage. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of immobilizing an instrument, including:
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providing a relaxable material having an open first passage, in which the providing the relaxable material having the first passage comprises providing a ball that includes the relaxable material;
introducing the instrument into the first passage; and
reducing an effective area of the material around the instrument by self-relaxing the material to immobilize the instrument with respect to the material. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A method comprising:
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aiming a first passage to align its axial trajectory with a target, in which the aiming includes locating at least one locator along the trajectory;
locking the first passage in an aligned position;
introducing an instrument into the first passage; and
releasing a spread-apart material about the first passage to reduce an effective area of the material around the instrument by self-relaxing the material to immobilize the instrument with respect to the material.
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29. A method comprising:
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aiming a first passage to align its axial trajectory with a target;
locking the first passage in an aligned position;
introducing an instrument into the first passage;
releasing a spread-apart material about the first passage to reduce an effective area of the material around the instrument by self-relaxing the material to immobilize the instrument with respect to the material; and
in which the releasing the spread-apart material comprises removing a stem.
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Specification