Patent ID: 6488030
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An apparatus for securing and positioning medical instruments, comprising:a main arm; an articulating arm assembly having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to said main arm and the second end being attached to a holder to which a medical instrument may be mounted; and a micro-advance mechanism disposed at said second end for permitting fine adjustment of the linear position, relative to said second end, of a medical instrument attached to said holder; said micro-advance mechanism comprising an actuator which, when moved through a particular range of motion in a first direction, functions to actuate said holder to advance linearly a particular distance proportional to the range of motion through which the actuator is moved, and when moved through a particular range of motion in a second direction, functions to actuate said holder to retract linearly a particular distance proportional to the range of motion through which the actuator is moved.