Patent ID: 7776056
Filing Date: 2010-08-17
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An instrument guide for use in surgery relative to a body, comprising: a guide tube extending from a first end to a second end and defining a bore through the guide tube; an adjustment mechanism operative to adjust the guide tube in at least two directions; a base member operable to be fixed to the body; a guide ball defining an opening therethrough, the opening including a first portion having a first diameter wider than a diameter of the guide tube, the first portion forming a shelf, the opening having a second portion having a second diameter smaller than the diameter of the guide tube, the guide ball operable to allow the guide tube to be positioned in a selected position on the shelf, the guide ball received within the base member, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a first knob movably coupled to an oval-shaped first guide ring, the first guide ring movably supported on the x-direction translation base, such that rotating the first knob moves the first guide ring and the guide ball in the x-direction; and an annular locking plate mounted over the guide tube to lock the guide ball into a fixed position to maintain the selected position.