Patent ID: 8172189

Claim:
A device for holding an item adjacent an MRI apparatus, the MRI apparatus being used with a table, said device comprising an articulating arm having a proximal end portion and a free distal end portion and a flexible elongated tensioning member located within said arm between said proximal end portion and said distal end portion, said proximal end portion being in the form of a base arranged to mount said device on or at the MRI apparatus, said free distal end portion of said arm being arranged to mount a desired item thereon, said arm having a central longitudinal axis and comprising plural segments of non-magnetic and non-conductive material or any material that is at least one of magnetic resonance safe and artifact-free, each of said segments comprising a projection centered on said central longitudinal axis at least one of said segments having an arcuate concave socket and an immediately adjacent segment having an arcuate convex shoulder surface, said socket of said at least one of said segments receiving said arcuate convex shoulder surface of said immediately adjacent segment, each of said segments including a recess portion in said arcuate convex shoulder surface and a projection located in said socket, said projection of any one of said segments being located within the recess of the immediately adjacent segment, said elongated tensioning member being located internally within said arm and comprising a cord extending between said proximal and distal end portions of said arm, said cord being formed of a material that is at least one of magnetic resonance safe and artifact-free, said cord comprising plural sequentially connected runs, said runs extending through said projection of said segments parallel to each other and adjacent said central longitudinal axis, said segments being arranged to pivot with respect to each other but restricted from excess pivoting of said segment with respect to each other by the location of the projection of one segment within the recess of an immediately adjacent segment and also being restricted from twisting more than a predetermined angle with respect to each other about said longitudinal axis when said elongated tensioning member is un-tensioned to enable said arm to be moved or bent into a desired shape and held in such shape when said elongated tensioning member is tensioned.