Patent ID: 12222060

It will be appreciated that for purposes of clarity and where deemed appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated in the figures to indicate corresponding features, and that the various elements in the drawings have not necessarily been drawn to scale in order to better show the features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1Ais a top-front perspective view of a torque enhancing apparatus. This view of the torque enhancing apparatus10illustrates a disc-shaped second socket12. The disc-shaped second socket interfaces via screw thread with a first socket54, which is illustrated inFIG.2A. Further details of the first socket and the interface between the first socket and the second socket12will be discussed later. The edges of the disc-shaped second socket12have several recesses14in a rounded scallop shape which act as an ergonomic feature and are configured for an improved ergonomic grip. Other embodiments of a similar apparatus may have recesses of alternate shapes, orientations or sizes. Four extendable moment arms16,18,20,22, shown in a retracted position, are pivotably coupled to the second socket12, each by way of their respective pivots32,34,36,38and are retractable to a position substantially within the outer circumference of the second socket12. Each extendable moment arm16,18,20,22defines a retainer40,42,44,46therein. Each retainer may also be referred to as a retaining feature, or biasing restraint, as the retainer is configured to bias against a corresponding feature in the flange48(not visible here, but shown later) of the second socket12and thereby hold each extendable moment arm16,18,20,22in place in its retracted position until the biased retaining force is defeated and the arms16,18,20,22are purposefully extended. Held within a central socket recess24defined by the second socket12is a ball26coupled to a mounting arm28. The mounting arm28is bent at a 135 degree angle and a stub or connector30is located on the mounting arm28on the end opposite that of the ball26. The connector30is a potential attachment point for another ball, fixed instrument, or other device in alternate embodiments or configurations. Either end of the mounting arm28could have screw threads, welded joints, or other means of attachment known to those skilled in the art. Alternate embodiments of the mounting arm28may be straight, may have bends of other angles advantageous for a particular application of instrument or device, or may be of varying lengths suitable to a particular use or application. The ball26is captively held between the second socket12and a first socket54(illustrated inFIG.2A). The ball26, and therefore the mounting arm28and any instrument or attachment fixed thereto, is movable when the first socket and second socket12are loosened relative to one another. The ball26, and therefore the mounting arm28and any instrument or attachment fixed thereto, is held in a fixed location when the mounting arm28is placed in a desired position and the first socket and second socket12are tightened relative to one another. As shown in its retracted position inFIG.1A, the torque enhancing apparatus may be difficult to tighten for all users, or may require a higher measure of tightening force if heavier instrumentation is affixed to the mounting arm28. Further, it may be of critical importance to a procedure or operation that instrumentation affixed to the mounting arm28and tightened by the torque enhancing apparatus10remain as immobile as possible for the duration of said procedure or operation. Other embodiments of a torque enhancing apparatus may have only one extendable moment arm, or more than four extendable moment arms with varying shapes or orientations. The two opposite pairs include a first pair of extendable moment arms16,20and a second pair of extendable moment arms18,22. As shown, both pair of extendable moment arms are substantially symmetrical, or form a symmetrical shape whether extended or retracted. Alternate embodiments may incorporate asymmetric arrangements of extendable moment arms.

FIG.1Bis a top-front perspective view of the torque enhancing apparatus ofFIG.1Awith two moment arms extended. There are two extendable moment arms18,22shown in an extended position, pivoting outward from their retracted position within the second socket12that was illustrated inFIG.1A. Also shown are two of the four recesses50located in a flange48on the second socket12of the torque enhancing apparatus10. These recesses50correspond to and are configured to engage with each of the retainers40,42,44,46on their respective extendable moment arms16,18,20,22to hold each of the extendable moment arms16,18,20,22in place until such time as they are needed to assist a user in tightening or loosening the torque enhancing apparatus. By applying a minimal amount of force to rotate the pair of extendable moment arms18,22, the retainers46,42can be defeated and the arms18,22rotated into their extended position. In this extended configuration, the two extendable moment arms18,22provide a larger radius for a contact point of applied force by an operator as compared to the radius of the second socket with the moment arms18,22retracted relative to a central point in the disc-shaped second socket12, and thus a reduced amount of input force is necessary to rotate the second socket12in a clockwise direction and achieve a similar output force when the extendable moment arms18,22are extended. This increased radius of contact point, and thus reduced force, allows a user to apply an increased amount of torque for the purpose of tightening or loosening the torque enhancing apparatus10.

FIG.2Ais an exploded view of the assembly of the torque enhancing apparatus ofFIG.1A. The second socket12defines a lower portion of the second socket52, a flange48, and four extendable moment arms18,20pivotably coupled to the flange48. The disc-shaped second socket12defines a central socket recess24that extends therethrough. The central socket recess24defines inner threads that are not visible in this view. The connection end or connector30of the mounting arm28is inserted into and through the central socket recess24on the second socket24. The central socket recess24is configured to receive and pivotably constrain the ball26end of the mounting arm28once the arm28is passed through the central socket recess24of the second socket12. The diameter of the ball26is larger than the diameter of the central socket recess24, and thus cannot fully pass through the second socket12. The central socket recess24also defines an inner wall having threads and an outer wall, which are not shown in this view. A first socket54defines a socket mount58, configured for attachment of the torque enhancing apparatus10to a base, clamp, or other stationary object. Several knurls60are also defined by the first socket54for providing and ergonomic grip for tightening or attaching the first socket54to a base or clamp. Other embodiments may be attached to a base or a clamp by other means, such as fasteners, welding, adhesives, or other suitable methods known to those skilled in the arts. The first socket54also has a coupling recess56having threads (also not shown in this view) on the inner wall that mate with the threads within the central socket recess24of the second socket12. The diameter of the ball26is also larger than the diameter of the shape of the central socket recess24, and thus can be constrained between the second socket12and the first socket54when the second socket12and the first socket54are threaded together and tightened. The first socket54is placed over the ball26on the mounting arm28and threaded into the second socket12. Upon some tightening of the interlocking threads of the first socket54and the second socket12, the ball26is confined, movement of the ball26is prohibited, and pivotable motion of the mounting arm28and any further attachments is restricted. Upon further tightening, the ball26is further confined, and the mounting arm28can be rendered immobile. The coupling recess56on the first socket54is configured to hold the ball26on the mounting arm28captive.FIG.2Bis an assembled side view of the torque enhancing apparatus ofFIG.1A, showing the result of the assembly steps shown inFIG.2A.

FIG.3A-3Care top views of the torque enhancing apparatus ofFIG.1Awith all four pair of moment arms retracted, one pair of moment arms extended, and another pair of moment arms extended, respectively. This embodiment of the torque enhancing apparatus10shown inFIG.3Ais shown from the top view, looking down onto the second socket12. The ball and mounting arm are removed inFIGS.3A-3Cto show the features of the second socket more clearly. The torque enhancing apparatus10embodiment illustrates all four extendable moment arms16,18,20,22in a retracted state. Two of the extendable moment arms are tightening extendable moment arms16,20and two of the extendable moment arms are loosening extendable moment arms18,22. Each of the four extendable moment arms16,18,20,22are held in the second socket with a pivot pin32,34,36,38which permits each extendable moment arm to pivot outwardly. Each of the four extendable moment arms16,18,20,22also have a biasing restraint or retainer40,42,44,46, in this embodiment, a spring loaded pin biased toward the flange48of the second socket12, configured to restrain each extendable moment arm16,18,20,22in the retracted position. A sufficient force must be applied to defeat each biasing restraint or retainer40,42,44,46in order to extend each moment arm outward16,18,20,22. This embodiment shows a pair of loosening extendable moment arms16,20and a pair of tightening extendable moment arms18,22retracted within the outer circumference second socket12, providing a mechanical advantage for tightening the first socket54and the second socket12relative to one another. Alternate embodiments may have other arrangements and orientations of extendable moment arms that may or may not overlap, may slide back and forth between retracted and extended positions, may be slidably attached to the second socket, may be detachable, or combinations thereof.FIG.3Bshows the torque enhancing apparatus ofFIG.3Awith the two tightening extendable moment arms16,20extended and the two loosening extendable moment arms18,22retracted. The torque enhancing apparatus10may now be rotated in a clockwise direction64in order to tighten the ball26of the mounting arm28between the first socket54and the second socket12with reduced applied force as compared to when tightening the first socket54and second socket12with the extendable moment arms16,20retracted.FIG.3Cshows the torque enhancing apparatus ofFIG.3Awith the two loosening extendable moment arms18,22extended and the two tightening extendable moment arms16,20retracted, providing a mechanical advantage for loosening the first socket54and the second socket12relative to one another. The torque enhancing apparatus10may now be rotated in a counterclockwise direction66in order to loosen the ball26of the mounting arm28between the first socket54and the second socket12with reduced force as compared to when the loosening extendable moment arms18,22are retracted. Alternate embodiments of the torque enhancing apparatus may be directionally oriented such that a clockwise rotation loosens the first and second socket relative to one another, and counterclockwise rotation tightens the first and second socket relative to one another.

Various advantages of a surgical equipment holder have been discussed above. Embodiments discussed herein have been described by way of example in this specification. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing detailed disclosure is intended to be presented by way of example only, and is not limiting. As just one example, although the end effectors in the discussed examples were often focused on the use of a scope, such systems could be used to position other types of surgical equipment. Various alterations, improvements, and modifications will occur and are intended to those skilled in the art, though not expressly stated herein. These alterations, improvements, and modifications are intended to be suggested hereby, and are within the spirit and the scope of the claimed invention. The drawings included herein are not necessarily drawn to scale. Additionally, the recited order of processing elements or sequences, or the use of numbers, letters, or other designations therefore, is not intended to limit the claims to any order, except as may be specified in the claims. Accordingly, the invention is limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereto.