Abstract:
A medical table and clamp apparatus provides a medical table having sides and at least one rail extending along a side. A clamp travels along the rail, the clamp having a clamp body which has a pair of spaced apart appendages with a recess therebetween. An internally threaded sleeve extends through the body and has an end portion that communicates with the recess. An externally threaded shaft threadably engages the sleeve. A bearing is mounted on one end of the shaft. A pusher/pressure plate is mounted on the bearing with a pivotal, articulating or ball and socket connection and has a concave surface that grips curved structures. The pusher plate is supported within the recess. The pusher plate is movable toward or away from the sleeve. An insert is connectable to the pressure/pusher plate and presents a flat surface to an implement that is to be clamped.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/290,927, filed Nov. 7, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/504,381, filed Jul. 16, 2009 (issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,051,515 on Nov. 8, 2011), which is a nonprovisional of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/188,662, filed Aug. 12, 2008, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference and priority of which is claimed. 
     Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/188,662, filed Aug. 12, 2008, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to surgical bed and a clamp that attaches to the rail of a surgical bed. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved surgical bed clamp having a specially configured interlocking connection between threaded rotating shaft (e.g. wingnut) and a clamp pressure plate or plates and wherein the clamp body pressure plates and shaft are of a non-metallic material. The present invention further relates to a uniquely configured clamp body that provides a nested insert which allows clamping of flat or rounded implements to a surgical table. 
     2. General Background of the Invention 
     Operating room tables typically are provided with a rail along one side of the table or along both sides of the table. These rails provide a place for attachment of a clamp. The clamp can be used to secure any number of operating room fixtures, appliances, instruments or tools to the table for use during surgery. Many patents have issued that are directed to surgical tables and related clamping structures. The following table provides an example of such tables, clamping arrangements and clamps. The table lists these patents in numerical order, the order of listing otherwise having no significance. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 PAT. NO. 
                 TITLE 
                 ISSUE DATE 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 2,276,741 
                 Boot Holder 
                 Mar. 17, 1942 
               
               
                 3,046,072 
                 Accessory Supports for Surgical  
                 Jul. 24, 1962 
               
               
                   
                 Operating Tables and the Like 
                   
               
               
                 3,339,913 
                 Accessory Clamping Structure  
                 Sep. 05, 1967 
               
               
                   
                 for Surgical Tables 
                   
               
               
                 4,018,412 
                 Bracket for an Operating Table 
                 Apr. 19, 1977 
               
               
                 4,122,587 
                 Patient Securing Device 
                 Oct. 31, 1978 
               
               
                 4,487,523 
                 Accessory Clamp for Abductor Bar 
                 Dec. 11, 1984 
               
               
                 4,526,355 
                 Arthroscopic Leg Holder 
                 Jul. 02, 1985 
               
               
                 4,547,092 
                 Accessory Clamp for Medical Table 
                 Oct. 15, 1985 
               
               
                 4,624,245 
                 Hip Displacement Apparatus 
                 Nov. 25, 1986 
               
               
                 4,653,482 
                 Upper-Extremity Traction Tray  
                 Mar. 31, 1987 
               
               
                   
                 Attachment for Operating Tables 
                   
               
               
                 4,708,510 
                 Ball Joint Coupling 
                 Nov. 24, 1987 
               
               
                 4,901,964 
                 Rail Clamp 
                 Feb. 20, 1990 
               
               
                 5,535,973 
                 Universal Clamp 
                 Jul. 16, 1996 
               
               
                 5,681,018 
                 Operating Room Tray System 
                 Oct. 28, 1997 
               
               
                 6,264,396 
                 Ball Socket Clamping Device 
                 Jul. 24, 2001 
               
               
                 2002/0157186 
                 Hip Brace Apparatus 
                 Oct. 31, 2002 
               
               
                 6,499,158 
                 Surgical Table Top and Accessory  
                 Dec. 31, 2002 
               
               
                   
                 Clamp Used Thereon 
                   
               
               
                 6,671,904 
                 Surgical Table Top and Accessory 
                 Jan. 06, 2004 
               
               
                   
                 Clamp Used Thereon 
                   
               
               
                 6,708,935 
                 Device for Upper Extremity Elevation 
                 Mar. 23, 2004 
               
               
                 2007/0290101 
                 Sprinkler Mount 
                 Dec. 20, 2007 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a medical table and clamp apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a medical table or surgical table having sides and at least one rail that extends along a side. 
     A clamp is provided that travels along the rail, the clamp being of a non-metallic clamp body having a pair of spaced apart appendages with a recess therebetween. 
     An internally threaded sleeve is provided on the body. In one embodiment, the sleeve can be a metallic internally threaded sleeve that extends through the body, having one sleeve end portion that is in communication with the recess. 
     An externally threaded shaft engages the internal threads of the sleeve. The shaft is provided with a knob or handle that enables one to rotate the threaded shaft. A non-metallic pusher plate is mounted on a spherically shaped or ball bearing end portion of the shaft, providing a pivotal, ball and socket or articulating connection. 
     The pusher plate is supported by the shaft and the spherically shaped bearing within the recess of the body. In one embodiment, two pusher plates are provided. One has a flat bearing surface. The other has a concave or curved bearing surface. 
     Each of the appendages has an end portion that grasps the rail. In one embodiment, the pusher plate is movable toward or away from the sleeve by selective rotation of the shaft in one or another rotational direction. This rotation of the shaft enables a medical implement to be clamped between the pusher plate and the rail. 
     The present invention provides a medical table and clamp apparatus provides a medical table having sides and at least one rail that extends along a side. A specially configured clamp travels along the rail, the clamp having a non metallic clamp body. The clamp body has a pair of spaced apart appendages with a recess therebetween. An opening such as a metallic, internally threaded sleeve extends through the body. The sleeve has one sleeve end portion that is in communication with the recess. An externally threaded shaft threadably engages the internally threaded sleeve. A bearing is mounted on one end of the shaft. A pusher or pressure plate is mounted on the bearing of the shaft with a pivotal, articulating or ball and socket connection. The pressure plate has a concave surface that grips curved structures or implements such as a cylindrical I.V. pole. The pusher plate is supported by the shaft and the spherically shaped bearing within the recess. Each appendage has an end portion that grasps the rail. The pusher plate is movable toward or away from the sleeve by selective rotation of the shaft in one or another rotational directions for enabling a medical implement to be clamped between the pusher plate and the rail. The sleeve and pusher plate can be of a non-metallic (e.g. polymeric) material. A specially configured insert is connectable to the pressure or pusher plate. The insert presents a flat rather than concave surface to an implement that is to be clamped, such as an acircular or flat sided implement. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a fragmentary perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the pusher plate; 
         FIG. 4  is a fragmentary perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the pusher plate; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the pressure plate in retracted position; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the pressure plate in extended position; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a partial perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the wing nut; 
         FIG. 9  is an elevation view of the wing nut; 
         FIG. 10  is an end view of the wing nut; 
         FIG. 11  is another end view of the wing nut; 
         FIG. 12  is a partial side view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the clamp body; 
         FIG. 13  is a partial side view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the clamp body; 
         FIG. 14  is a sectional view taken along lines  14 - 14  of  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a partial bottom view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  is a sectional view taken along lines  16 - 16  of  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a partial perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the clamp body; 
         FIG. 18  is a partial bottom view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the pressure plate; 
         FIG. 19  is a sectional view taken along lines  19 - 19  of  FIG. 18 ; 
         FIG. 20  is a sectional view taken along lines  20 - 20  of  FIG. 18 ; 
         FIG. 21  is a partial perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the pusher plate; 
         FIG. 22  is a partial elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the pressure plate; 
         FIG. 23  is a partial end view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the pressure plate; 
         FIG. 24  is a partial perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the second version of the pressure plate; 
         FIG. 25  is a frontal elevation view of the pressure plate of  FIG. 24 ; 
         FIG. 26  is a sectional view taken along lines  26 - 26  of  FIG. 25 ; 
         FIG. 27  is a side view of the pressure plate of  FIG. 24 ; 
         FIG. 28  is a sectional view taken along lines  28 - 28  of  FIG. 27 ; 
         FIG. 29  is a partial, front elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the insert portion; 
         FIG. 30  is a side view of the insert of  FIG. 29 ; 
         FIG. 31  is a top view of the insert of  FIG. 29 ; 
         FIG. 32  is a front perspective view of the insert of  FIG. 29 ; 
         FIG. 33  is a rear perspective view of the insert of  FIG. 29 ; 
         FIG. 34  is a perspective view of the alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 35  is a fragmentary perspective view of the alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 36  is a fragmentary perspective view of the alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1-7  show a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, designated generally by the numeral  10 . Table and clamp apparatus  10  provides a medical or surgical table  30  having a rail  29 . There can be a gap  28  in between rail  29  and table  30 . Such tables  30  having rail  29  and gap  28  are commercially available. 
     In  FIGS. 1-2 ,  5 - 7  and  12 - 17  clamp body  11  is provided which has a pair of appendages  12 ,  13  with a recess  14  therebetween. Clamp body  11  has an internally threaded opening  16  which can be in the form of an internally threaded metallic sleeve  15  that is embedded in body  11 . Body  11  is preferably of a non-metallic material such as a polymeric material (e.g. polyamide, nylon) such as Grivory® GV6H or Grivory® GV7H. The non-metallic material of body  11  can be a nylon copolymer, polyamide, or polyphthalamide as examples. Another material would be GRIMALID LVX-65H, a nylon based material that is very strong, arguably some better properties than the Grivory GV-6H &amp; 7H materials, but it costs about 25% more. The Grivory® products GV6H, GV7H and GRILAMID LVX-65H are sold by EMS Grivory of Switzerland (www.emsgrivory.com). 
     A wing nut  17  provides an externally threaded shaft  18 . The external threads on shaft  18  engage the internal threads of internally threaded opening  16  (see  FIGS. 5-6 ). In this fashion, a ball or sphere or rounded member  19  on an end portion of externally threaded shaft  18  opposite knob  17  can be advanced or retracted by rotating shaft  18 . A user simply rotates handle or knob  20  of wing nut  17  in a clockwise direction in order to advance ball, sphere or rounded member  19  toward recess  14 . A counterclockwise rotation of handle  20  withdraws the ball or sphere or rounded member  19  toward internally threaded opening  16 . Shaft  18  handle  20  and rounded member  19  can be of a non-metallic material, such as Grivory® GV6H. 
     Either of a pair of pressure plates  22 ,  26  can be attached to the ball, sphere or rounded member  19  of internally threaded shaft  18 . Each pressure plate  22 ,  26  can be of a non-metallic material, such as Grivory® GV6H. 
     The apparatus  10  of the present invention provides a disconnectable or removable connection between either of the pressure plates  22 ,  26  and the ball, sphere or rounded member  19  of internally threaded shaft  18 . Each pusher plate  22 ,  26  can be selectively mounted (see phantom lines  25 ,  FIG. 7 ) on spherically shaped or ball bearing end portion  19  of shaft  18 , providing a pivotal, ball and socket or articulating connection  27  (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). The pressure plate  22  has a flat distal surface  31 . The pressure plate  26  has a concave surface  32 . A user can select either pressure plate  22  or  26 . These respective surfaces  31 ,  32  enable the clamping of an object  44  having a flat side (or sides) or a rounded object  45  in between the selected pressure plate  22  or  26  and the rail  29  of surgical table  30 . Such objects  44 ,  45  can be for example: IV poles, orthopaedic supports, retractors, harnesses and the like. 
     A proximal  33  end of clamp body  11  provides collar  23  which can be generally cylindrically shaped. Collar  23  can be reinforced with a plurality of gussets  24 . Each gusset  24  extends between an outer generally cylindrical surface  34  of collar  23  and an upper outer surface  35  of body  11  as shown. Side surfaces  36 ,  37  of body  11  form an acute angle. Each surface  36 ,  37  forms an obtuse angle with surface  35 . 
     The clamp body has additional outer surfaces  38 ,  39 . The surfaces  38 ,  39  can be generally parallel. Each surface  38 ,  39  is an outer surface of an appendage  12 ,  13 . Each appendage  12 ,  13  has an opening that extends from an outer surface to an inner surface of the appendage  12 ,  13 . Opening  40  extends between outer surface  38  and inner surface  42 . Similarly, opening  41  on appendage  13  extends from outer surface  39  to inner surface  43 . 
     The body  11  has body end portions  47 ,  48 . Each end portion has a socket. The end portion  46  has socket  48 . The end portion  47  has socket  49 . As shown, the sockets  48 ,  49  can be generally trapezoidal in shape. 
     Openings  40 ,  41  that extend through appendages  12 ,  13  can include rectangular and semi-circular or arcuate sections. For example, in  FIG. 16 , the opening  40  can include a generally rectangular section  50 , a semi-circular section  51  and an arcuate or curved section  52 . If the apparatus  10  is clamping an object  44  having flat sides as shown in  FIG. 2 , that object  44  would basically occupy the rectangular section  50  of opening  40  or  41 . The semi-circular  51  and arcuate section  52  can combine to provide a generally circular space for receiving the generally cylindrically shaped object  45 . Body  11  could be sized to accommodate objects  45  of a given diameter. 
     In  FIGS. 19-23 , pressure plate  22  is shown in more detail. Pressure plate  22  provides a first plate  55  to which are attached a pair of flanges  57 ,  58 . Openings  56  are provided in plate  55 . A recess  59  is provided in between flanges  57 ,  58 . Wedges  64 ,  65  can be used to reinforce flanges  57 ,  58  respectively as shown. 
     Shoulders  61 ,  62  are shaped to engage rounded portion  19  of wing nut  17 . In this fashion, when a user wants to retract the selected pusher plate  22  or  26 , the shoulders  60 ,  61  are pulled by the rounded member  19  of wing nut  17  until the position of  FIG. 5  is reached. In  FIG. 5 , the shoulders  60 ,  61  can be seen conforming to sphere or rounded member  19  at annular recess  21 . When the pusher plate  22  or  26  is to be extended for engaging an object  44  or  45 , it is moved to the position shown in  FIG. 6 . When rotating knob or handle  20  in a direction that moves rounded member or sphere  19  away from body  11 , an end  53  of rounded member  19  engages bearing pad  62  which is a flat portion of pedestal  63 . 
       FIGS. 24-28  show pressure plate  26  in more detail. Pressure plate  26  provides a plate  70  having openings  71  at concave surface  32 . Plate  70  is reinforced with flanges  72 ,  73  which can be generally parallel providing recess  74  therebetween as shown in  FIG. 24 . As with the pressure plate  22 , plate  26  provides shoulders  75 ,  76  that enable rounded member or sphere  19  to pull the pressure plate  26  to the retracted position of  FIG. 6 . As with pressure plate  22 , pressure plate  26  provides a pedestal  78  having bearing pad  77 . Wedges  79 ,  80  are provided for reinforcing flanges  72 ,  73  respectively. The wedges  79 ,  80  extend between plate  70  and a flange  72  or  73  as shown in  FIGS. 24-28 . 
     The recess  14  includes a tapered section  54  that is sized and shaped to receive either of the pressure plates  22 ,  26  as shown in  FIG. 5  when the knob or handle  20  is rotated counterclockwise, pulling shaft  18  as far as possible away from body  11 . 
     In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a surgical or operating room table  66  is shown having a rail  67 . Rail  67  has an inner surface  68  and an outer surface  69 . Rail  67  has an upper surface  81  and a lower surface  82 .  FIGS. 1 and 2  show the appendages  12 ,  13  engaging the rail  67 . Note that each appendage  12 ,  13  has a lip or shoulder that engages the inner surface  68  of rail  67 . In  FIG. 14 , the appendage  12  has shoulder  83 . The appendage  13  has shoulder  84 . 
     An alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention is designated generally by the numeral  10 A in  FIG. 34 . The alternate embodiment  10 A can be seen in  FIGS. 29-36 . The alternate embodiment  10 A provides body  11  and wing nut  17  of very similar configuration to the preferred embodiment. A difference is that for the apparatus  10 A, the body  11  provides an optional recess in the form of a rectangular socket  85  that replaces the socket  49  of  FIGS. 1-28 . Rectangular socket  85  has a flat inner surface  86  that is rectangular. The rectangular socket  85  provides four flat sidewalls  87 , each of which extends perpendicularly from flat inner surface  86 . The rectangular socket  85  is provided to house insert  88 . Insertion of the insert  88  can be seen in  FIGS. 35 and 36 . Arrow  89  schematically illustrates the storing of insert  88  into rectangular socket  85 . 
     Projections  95  on insert  88  enable a user to grip the insert  88  between his or her thumb and forefinger such as when the forefinger is on one of the projections  95  and the thumb is on the other projection  95 . The user then places the insert  88  into the rectangular socket  85  as indicated by arrow  89  in  FIG. 35 . The fit of insert  88  within socket  85  is preferably a frictional fit so that the insert can be inserted into the socket  85  or removed from the socket  85 . The insert  88  fits snugly in socket  85  so that it remains within the socket  85  unless purposely removed. The peripheral dimensions of the insert  88  as seen in  FIG. 29  would be the same as or slightly smaller than the peripheral dimensions of the socket  85 . 
     Insert  88  can be connected to pressure plate  26  as indicated by arrow  90 . As seen in  FIGS. 3 and 7 , the pressure plate  26  has a pair of slots  96 , each of which receives a projection  95  of insert  88 . Thus, each projection  95  is correspondingly sized and shaped to plug into and fit a slot  96 . This assembly can be seen in  FIG. 34 . When the projections  95  are inserted into the slots  96 , curved surface  92  of insert  88  abuts the curved or concave surface  97  of the concavity  32  of recess  26 . The surfaces  92  and  97  are thus corresponding in size and shaped. 
     Insert  88  has a flat upper surface  93  and a flat lower surface  94 . The insert  88  can be seen in more detail in  FIGS. 29-33 . The alternate embodiment of  FIGS. 29-36  provide an insert  26  that can accommodate cylindrically shaped or curved structures such as an IV pole wherein the IV pole engages the concavity  32  of the pressure plate  26 . If the pressure plate  26  is to engage a flat surface, the insert  88  is first connected to the pressure plate  26  so that a flat surface  91  is presented to the implement that is to be clamped. 
     The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention: 
     PARTS LIST 
     Parts Number Description
           10  table and clamp apparatus     10 A table and clamp apparatus     11  clamp body     12  appendage     13  appendage     14  recess     15  sleeve     16  internally threaded opening     17  wing nut     18  externally threaded shaft     19  ball/sphere/rounded member     20  handle/knob     21  annular recess     22  pressure plate     23  collar     24  gusset     25  phantom line     26  pressure plate     27  ball and socket connection     28  gap     29  rail     30  table     31  flat distal surface     32  concave surface     33  proximal end     34  outer cylindrical surface     35  outer surface     36  outer surface     37  outer surface     38  outer surface     39  outer surface     40  opening     41  opening     42  inner surface     43  inner surface     44  object     45  object     46  body end position     47  body end position     48  socket     49  socket     50  rectangular section     51  semicircular section     52  arcuate section     53  end     54  tapered section     55  plate     56  opening     57  flange     58  flange     59  recess/socket     60  shoulder     61  shoulder     62  bearing pad     63  pedestal     64  wedge     65  wedge     66  surgical/operating room table     67  rail     68  inner surface     69  outer surface     70  plate     71  opening     72  flange     73  flange     74  recess     75  shoulder     76  shoulder     77  bearing pad     78  pedestal     79  wedge     80  wedge     81  upper surface     82  lower surface     83  shoulder     84  shoulder     85  rectangular socket     86  flat inner surface     87  flat side wall     88  insert     89  arrow     90  arrow     91  flat surface     92  curved surface     93  flat upper surface     94  flow lower surface     95  projection     96  slot     97  concave surface       

     All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise. 
     The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.