Patent ID: 8096515

Claim:
A medical device hanging apparatus for facilitating the removable attachment of a medical instrument alternately to a vertical or a horizontal longitudinal support structure, the hanging apparatus comprising: a clamp shaft rotatable about a central longitudinal axis; a clamp arm extending orthogonally from the clamp shaft; an internal shaft positioned within the clamp shaft; a tension spring fixed at a first end to at least one of the internal shaft and the clamp shaft; a clamp housing that receives the clamp shaft, the clamp arm positioned external to the housing, a second end of the tension spring fixed to the clamp housing such that telescoping withdrawal of the clamp shaft from the clamp housing is resisted by the tension spring; and a rotational cam mechanism, the cam mechanism positioned between the clamp housing and the internal shaft, wherein rotation of the internal shaft directs a longitudinal movement of the internal shaft and the clamp arm to effect a displacement of the internal shaft further into the clamp housing.