Patent ID: 7014609

Claim:
An articulation member usable in surgery, said articulation member comprising: a generally elongate first arm, said first arm defining a first arm longitudinal axis, said first arm having a first arm first end and an opposed first arm second end; a generally elongate second arm, said second arm defining a second arm longitudinal axis, said second arm having a second arm first end and an opposed second arm second end, said first and second arm being positioned relative to each other so as to define an orientation angle between said first and second arm longitudinal axes; a substantially spherical ball, said ball extending from said first arm first end; a housing, said housing defining a pair of generally opposed socket seat portions, said socket seat portions being configured and sized so as to together substantially fittingly receive said ball for securing and allowing rotation thereof, said housing also defining a pair of generally opposed clamp surfaces, said clamp surfaces being configured and sized so as to together receive and secure an insertable portion of said second arm; and a locking member operatively coupled to said housing, said locking member being moveable between a loosened configuration and a tightened configuration wherein respectively, in said loosened configuration said locking member allows relative movement between said ball and said socket seat portions so as to permit relative pivotal movement between said first arm and said second arm within a predetermined range of orientation angles; and in said tightened configuration, said locking member locks the orientation of said second arm relative to said first arm in a desired orientation angle, said orientation angle being within said predetermined range.