Patent ID: 6179262
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: A61B,F16M

Abstract:
A stabilizer assembly for supporting a medical instrument, comprising:two spaced-apart swivel assemblies, each swivel assembly including at least one swivel connection permitting movement of a portion of the swivel assembly in a horizontal plane and at least one other swivel connection permitting movement of a portion of the swivel assembly in a vertical plane, and further including means for locking the swivel connections;a central head assembly, including at least one universal joint, the central head assembly including means for locking the universal joint and means connecting the universal joint to the swivel assemblies respectively; andhandle means extending from the central head assembly which includes means for unlocking the universal joint to permit movement of the central head assembly, wherein the central head assembly is capable of moving in six degrees of freedom when the swivel assemblies and the universal joint are unlocked and of moving in two degrees of freedom when the universal joint is locked but the swivel assemblies are unlocked.