Patent ID: 6629982
Filing Date: 2003-10-07
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A skull clamp for holding the head of a patient comprising:a C-shaped frame have first and second legs adapted to reside on opposite sides of the head, the legs aligned along an axis which bisects the head; a single side skull pin and a single pin assembly held by the first leg, on a first side of the head, the single pin assembly oriented in alignment with an axis which, when in use, extends through the head of the patient and through the second leg of the C-shaped frame; a rocker arm assembly held by the second leg, on a second side of the head, the rocker arm assembly supporting a pair of rocker arm skull pins in spaced relation; and a pair of skull pin carrier assemblies held to the rocker arm assembly in spaced relation, each supporting a rocker arm skull pin, the single side skull pin and said pair of rocker arm skull pins adapted to securely hold the head of the patient, each rocker arm skull pin being oriented in non-alignment with the axis, each skull pin carrier assembly further including an indicator cap operatively contacting the respective rocker arm skull pin, each indicator cap being movable relative to the corresponding rocker arm skull pin along a direction parallel to the orientation of the corresponding rocker arm skull pin in response to head engagement force applied to the corresponding rocker arm skull pin, thereby to provide a comparative indication of load distribution to said pair of rocker arm skull pins.