Apparatus and method for use in performing a surgical operation

Claim 2

Apparatus for use in performing surgery comprising: an arcuate support means having a longitudinal axis comprising an arc of a circle having a center; said arcuate support means having a first end portion and a second end portion; guide means secured to said first end portion; a passageway extending through said guide means and having a longitudinal axis coinciding with a ray from said center of said circle; a pin sleeve mounted and secured in said guide means; said pin sleeve having a passageway extending therethrough and having a longitudinal axis coinciding with said longitudinal axis of said guide means; a targeting means having a non-linear configura­tion and having a target area at one end thereof and attachment means at the other end thereof; securing means for cooperating with said attach­ment means to secure said targeting means to said arcuate support means so that said target area is located at said center of said circle; and clamping means movably mounted on said securing means for cooperating with said securing means to hold said target area at a desired location.

Claim 3

Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said arcuate support means comprises: a pair of spaced apart, parallel tracks; said guide means closing said first end portion between said tracks; said guide means secured to said tracks and holding said tracks in said spaced apart parallel relationship; said arc of said circle being located in the space between said spaced apart, parallel tracks; and an opening at said second end portion of said tracks for permitting objects to be positioned between said tracks.

Claim 4

Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said targeting means comprises: an elongated member having a first and a second end portion; said target area being located at said first end portion of said elongated member; and attachment means at said second end portion of said elongated member.

Claim 5

Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said securing means comprises: a hollow elongated rod; a central portion on said hollow elongated rod and having a cross-sectional configuration so that a portion thereof may be located between said tracks; a first and a second outwardly projecting flange portion having different sized but similar shaped cross-sectional configurations and located adjacent to one end of said hollow elongated rod with said second flange portion having the greater cross-sectional configuration and located closer to said one end; an abutment shoulder formed at the juncture of said first and second flange portions; an externally threaded portion adjacent the other end of said hollow elongated rod; an open ended C-shaped angle member having a central opening having a cross-sectional configuration greater than the cross-sectional configuration of said central portion so that said open ended C-shaped angle member can be placed over said hollow elongated rod and have relative sliding movement thereover; said open ended C-shaped angle member being dimensioned so that said spaced apart, parallel tracks may be received therein; force applying means having an inner passageway having an internally threaded portion for engagement with said externally threaded portion of said hollow elongated rod; and a force applying end on said force applying means adapted to contact said open ended C-shaped angle member so that when said force applying means is rotated relative to said hollow elongated rod, said open ended C-shaped angle member will be moved along said hollow elongated rod.

Claim 6

Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said attachment means comprises: a hollow body member having a portion of its internal cross-sectional configuration similar in shape to but slightly larger than said cross-sectional configuration of said second flange portion of said hollow elongated rod; a longitudinally extending slot in said hollow body member, said slot being dimensioned so that said central portion of said hollow elongated rod may be moved through said slot and into and positioned within said hollow body member; and an inwardly projecting flange in said hollow body member and forming an abutment surface adapted to contact said abutment shoulder on said hollow elongated rod so as to prevent relative movement in one direction between said hollow body member and said hollow elon­gated rod.

Claim 7

Apparatus as in claim 5 and further comprising: means for preventing relative rotational movement between said hollow body member and said hollow elon­gated rod.

Claim 8

Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said clamping means comprises: an internally threaded portion adjacent said other end of said hollow elongated rod; a hollow elongated clamping rod having a foot portion adjacent one end thereof and an externally threaded portion adjacent the other end thereof; said externally threaded portion of said hollow elongated clamping rod being in threaded engagement with said internally threaded portion of said hollow elongated rod so that rotation of said elongated clamping rod will cause axial movement thereof relative to said hollow elongated rod to move said foot portion toward and away from said target area so that said target area may be secured at a desired location on an object; and knob means secured to said other end of said elongated clamping rod for use in applying a rotational force to said elongated clamping rod.

Claim 9

Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said target area comprises: a tip on said first end portion.

Claim 10

Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said target area comprises: an opening extending through said first end portion.

Claim 11

Apparatus as in claim 7 and further comprising: an inner passageway extending through said elon­gated clamping rod in an axial direction; an opening passing through said knob means in alignment with said inner passageway; and said inner passageway having a longitudinal axis coinciding with a ray from said center of said circle.