Patent ID: 7546993
Filing Date: 2009-06-16
Classification: A61M,F16M

Abstract:
1. A clamping apparatus for use in a medical environment to releasably secure a device to a support member, the clamping apparatus comprising: a flexible shaft having a first end for attachment to the support member and a second end for attachment to the device; a device clamp adapted to connect the device to the flexible shaft, the device clamp comprising first and second generally opposed clamp elements and a connector interconnecting the first and second clamp elements, the first and second clamp elements defining a first receptacle for receiving the second end of the flexible shaft therein and a second receptacle for receiving a mounting structure of the device therein, at least one of the first and second clamp elements defining a device catch in the second receptacle, the connector being selectively movable between a first position in which the clamp elements are adapted to frictionally engage the second end of the flexible shaft and the mounting structure of the device to resist relative rotation between the flexible shaft, device clamp and device, and a second position in which the clamp elements are relatively farther apart than in the first position and the device catch is positioned to prevent withdrawal of the mounting structure of the device from the second receptacle thereby permitting the device to be rotated with respect to the flexible shaft without releasing connection to the flexible shaft.