Abstract:
In accordance with the invention, a first lever is employed to secure a surgical knee positioner unit to the operating table and a second lever is employed to positionally adjust the surgical knee positioner, per se.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to apparatus of the type used for the positive positioning of feet, knees, etc., for surgical and other medical activities and the preferred embodiment has particular utility in the positioning of the human knee for surgery including such procedures as total knee replacement, in which the knee must be maintained in the selected optimum position.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,551 entitled “Knee Positioner” describes limb surgery on the human body including knees, knee replacement, fracture repair, as well as similar hand, foot, and ankle surgery such that the joint or limb to be operated on is precisely and predictably positioned during such surgery.  
         [0003]     Optimum positioning requires a large range of positive positioning adjustments to be easily available so that the limb or joint to be treated is initially positioned and thereafter maintained in the desired position.  
         [0004]     The aforementioned knee positioner utilizes a first knob for controlling flexion and extension, a second knob for controlling rotation, a third knob to attach the knee positioner to the table and a lever to release the surgical boot.  
         [0005]     It would be functionally and economically advantageous to provide such a knee positioner with a single lever to clamp the knee positioner to the operating table and a simple lever for simple and easy adjustment of the knee positioner unit, per se.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     In accordance with the invention, operating table clamp support having a first lever is employed to secure a surgical knee positioner unit to the operating table via a pair of U-shaped jaws. A second lever on the knee positioner unit is employed to positionally adjust the surgical knee positioner by means of a support rail and track assembly. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the clamp lever arrangement components of the invention in isometric projection prior to assembly;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the clamp lever arrangement components of  FIG. 1 , fully assembled;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a foot retainer device prior to attachment to the operating table via the clamp lever arrangement of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; and  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the foot retainer device of  FIG. 3  after attachment to the operating table via the clamp lever arrangement of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0011]     The operating table clamp support  10  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  includes a base clamp  11  and a top clamp  12 . An operative lever  13  is assembled to the base clamp  11  for controlling the position of the U-shaped jaws  14  and  15  in the manner to be described below in greater detail.  
         [0012]     A pair of upstanding guideposts  16  is attached to a top surface of the base clamp  11  for reception within a corresponding pair of guide apertures  17  for supporting the top clamp  12  upon the base clamp  11  in clearance relation. The compression spring  26  is positioned intermediate base clamp  11  and top clamp  12  prior to assembly for controlling the movement of the top clamp upon rotation of the operative lever  13 . The elongated cam  18  includes a threaded slot  19  and is positioned within the aperture  20  extending within the cam-shaped end  22  of the operative lever  13  such that the threaded slot  19  on the elongated cam  18  aligns with the elongated slot  21  formed on the cam-shaped end  22 .  
         [0013]     The forward end of the cam-shaped end  22  is next positioned within clearance opening  25  in the base clamp  1  land the threaded rod  27  is first inserted thru the aperture  28  in the top clamp  12 , thru the compression spring  26 , thru the aperture  46  in the top of the base clamp  11 , thru the aperture  21  in the top of the cam-shaped end  22  and threadingly attached to the threaded aperture  19  within the elongated cam  18 . The knurled cap  29  next engages the top of the threaded rod  27  via the threaded aperture  30  to retain the top clamp  12 , base clamp  11  and operating lever  13  as a complete assembly. The handle  24  on the end of the operating rod  23  facilities movement of the operating table clamp  10 .  
         [0014]     The operating table clamp support  10  is positioned over the operating table rail  32 , shown in phantom in  FIG. 2  in the following manner. The U-shaped jaws  14  and  15  on the operating table clamp support are positioned on opposite edges of the operating table rail  32  and the knurled knob  29  is rotated in the clockwise indicated direction to secure the jaws together.  
         [0015]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the knee positioner unit  33  that carries the knee support flex boot  37  via the pivot support  38  that is fixed to the rail  36  carried by the upstanding track  35  on the support platform  34 , is one type of operating support device that can be used with the operating table clamp support  10  in accordance with the invention. The connecting plate  39 , that is fixedly attached to the support plate  34 , includes a pair of spaced apertures  40  thru which the support posts  41  are inserted down into the apertures  31  formed in the top plate  12  of the operating table clamp  10 , as shown earlier in  FIG. 1 . When the support posts are completely within the apertures  31 , they are fastened therein via a pair of setscrews  44  inserted within the apertures  43  formed in the connecting plate  39 . To provide access to the knurled knob  29 , when the operating table clamp support  10  engages the operating table rail  32  and the knee positioner unit  33 , a slot  42  is formed on the connecting plate  39  of the knee positioner unit.  
         [0016]     The operation of the operating table clamp support  10  and the knee positioner unit  33  is best understood by now referring to  FIG. 4 .  
         [0017]     To move the knee positioner unit  33  along the operating table rail  32 , in the forward and reverse indicated directions, the operative lever  13  is rotated to the counterclockwise-indicated direction, which rotates the elongated cam  18  ( FIG. 1 ) and unlocks the operating table clamp support  10  from the operating table rail  32 . When the knee positioner unit  33  is in the desired position, the operative lever  13  is rotated to the clockwise-indicated position, to lock the operating table clamp support  10  and the knee positioner unit  33  onto the operating table rail  32 .  
         [0018]     To move the knee positioner unit  33  along the support platform  34 , in the forward and reverse indicated directions, the adjustment lever  45  on the rail  36  is rotated to the counter-clockwise indicated direction to loosen the tension applied between the rail and the up-standing track  35  in the manner described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,551. When the knee positioner unit  33  is at the desired location, the adjustment lever  45  is rotated in the clockwise-indicated direction to lock the knee positioner unit  33  in place.  
         [0019]     A simple operating table clamp support employing a single lever for fastening and releasing operating table surgical support equipment has herein been described in conjunction with an operating table knee positioner unit employing a single lever for movement of the knee positoner unit, per se.