Patent ID: 6113265
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
In C-arm apparatus, in combination:(a) a rigid C-shaped track having a circular arc of curvature and opposed free ends, spaced apart by a gap, for respectively bearing two elements which are to be maintained in fixed relation to each other and to be adjustably positionable in relation to an object which is to be disposed in the gap, said track having a surface extending along its length;(b) a member supporting said track for longitudinal guided sliding movement along an arcuate path coincident with the arc of curvature of the track to orbit said elements;(c) a brake shoe for bearing against said track surface;(d) a driver, mounted in said supporting member and carrying said brake shoe, for moving said brake shoe toward and away from said track surface through a range of positions between a first position in which the shoe bears against the track surface with full braking force to prevent movement of the track along the path and a second position in which the shoe exerts substantially no braking force on the surface, said shoe being resiliently compressible toward said driver such that as the shoe moves progressively through at least a substantial part of said range it exerts a progressively varying force on the track surface;(e) a handle connected to the driver for operating the driver to move the shoe through said range of positions; and(f) a detent cooperating with said handle to releasably arrest said handle in each of a plurality, greater than two, of locations respectively corresponding to a like plurality of positions of said brake shoe, within said range, including said first and second positions.