Non-penetrating fixing device

• US 8,192,449 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2006
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brainlab AG
• Original Assignee: Brainlab AG
• Inventors: Maier, Christian, Maier, Georg
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrett, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BECCIA, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US11/552,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20070123916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,050 Days
• Field of Search: 606/53, 606/74, 606/151, 606/207, 606/86.R, 606300-331, 600426-429, 723/905, 7125-137
• US Class Current: 606/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8866 for gripping or pushing bones, e.g. approximators joint distractors A61B17/025
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3983 Reference marker arrangements for use with image guided surgery

Abstract

A fixing device for securely fixing surgical equipment to a surgical field of a human or animal body includes a first lever element including a first gripping portion and a first handling portion, and a second lever element including a second gripping portion and a second handling portion. The and second lever elements can be connected such that they can be pivoted and detached with respect to each other.

Claims

1. A fixing device for securely fixing surgical equipment to a surgical field of a human or animal body, comprising:

a first lever element including a first gripping portion, a first handling portion and an intermediate portion therebetween; and

a second lever element including a second gripping portion, a second handling portion and an intermediate portion therebetween;

wherein the intermediate portion of one of the first or second lever elements includes laterally spaced apart portions that are laterally spaced apart in a first direction and a pivot surface forming a pivot between the laterally spaced apart portions, the laterally spaced apart portions being laterally spaced apart sufficiently to receive therebetween the intermediate portion of the other of the first or second lever elements;

wherein the laterally spaced apart portions form an aperture therebetween and are joined at one end of the aperture to form the pivot surface, the intermediate portion of the other lever element being movable into abutting engagement with the pivot surface and to pivot against the pivot surface for relative rotation of the lever elements about an axis parallel to the first direction; and

wherein the aperture extends from the pivot surface a distance that allows for insertion of the gripping portion of the other lever element between the laterally spaced portions, whereby the first and second lever elements can be pivoted and detached with respect to one another.

2. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the aperture has a hole-like, groove-like or slit-like shape for guiding said other of the first or second lever elements into an operating position within the intermediate portions.

3. The fixing device according to claim 1, further comprising a securing element for securely maintaining an angle between the lever elements or securely urging said gripping portions against a bone.

4. The fixing device according to claim 3, wherein the aperture has a hole-like, groove-like or slit-like shape for guiding said other of the first or second lever elements into an operating position within the intermediate portions.

5. The fixing device according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the gripping portions is broadened in a direction perpendicular to the handling portion of the corresponding lever element.

6. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second gripping portions has at least one gripping surface.

7. The fixing device according to claim 6, wherein the gripping surface of at least one of the gripping portions is broadened in a direction perpendicular to the handling portion of the corresponding lever element.

8. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second lever elements are formed to provide a plier-like instrument.

9. The fixing device according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the gripping portions is broadened in a direction perpendicular to the handling portion of the corresponding lever element.

10. The fixing device according to claim 1, further comprising a reference element or reference array on at least one of the lever elements for tracking a position of the fixing device in three dimensional space.

11. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate portions are formed by prong-like extensions.

12. The fixing device according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the gripping portions is provided with at least one extended edge directed towards the opposite gripping portion.

13. The fixing device according to claim 6, wherein the gripping surface of at least one of the gripping portions is provided with at least one extended edge directed towards the opposite gripping surface.

14. The fixing device according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the gripping portions is provided with at least one extended edge directed towards the opposite gripping portion.