Stereotactic frame

Claim 1

An apparatus for aiming a puncturing tool to a target, wherein said puncturing tool is guided to said target by viewing it on a fluoroscopic image display, comprising: a sighting member having an aperture which is an enlarged circular opening disposed throughout; a bracket coupled to said sighting member for supporting said sighting member; a translation means coupled to said bracket; mounting means coupled to said translation means for attachment to a fixed object; said translation means for providing movement of said apparatus relative to said fixed object; first rotating means coupled to said sighting member and said bracket for rotating said sighting member relative to said bracket and about a first axis formed by a first diameter of said circular opening; second rotating means coupled to said bracket and said translation means for rotating said bracket relative to said translation means, said rotation of said bracket causing said sighting member to also rotate about a second axis formed by a second diameter of said circular opening, said second diameter being perpendicular to said first diameter; said first and second rotating means include gears for providing said movement; said sighting member disposed to overlie on said target, wherein said first and second rotating means are manipulated such that a correct alignment of said sighting member is achieved when an x-ray beam passing through said sighting member to reach said target is perpendicular to said first and second axes; wherein alignment for said puncturing tool is provided.

Claim 2

An apparatus for aiming a puncturing tool to a target, wherein said puncturing tool is guided to said target by viewing it on a fluoroscopic image display, comprising: a sighting member having an aperture which is an enlarged circular opening disposed throughout; a bracket coupled to said sighting member for supporting said sighting member; a translation means coupled to said bracket; mounting means coupled to said translation means for attachment to a fixed object; said translation means for providing movement of said apparatus relative to said fixed object; first rotating means coupled to said sighting member and said bracket for rotating said sighting member relative to said bracket and about a first axis formed by a first diameter of said circular opening; second rotating means coupled to said bracket and said translation means for rotating said bracket relative to said translation means, said rotation of said bracket causing said sighting member to also rotate about a second axis formed by a second diameter of said circular opening, said second diameter being perpendicular to said first diameter; said first and second rotating means include gears for providing said movement; said sighting member disposed to overlie on said target, wherein said first and second rotating means are manipulated such that a correct alignment of said sighting member is achieved when an x-ray beam passing through said sighting member to reach said target is perpendicular to said first and second axes; wherein alignment for said puncturing tool is provided.

Claim 4

An apparatus for aiming and guiding a puncturing tool to a target located within a body by viewing it on a fluoroscopic image display, comprising: an aiming frame having a circular aperture disposed throughout; a bracket coupled to said aiming frame for supporting said frame; an elongated horizontal member having a proximal end coupled to said bracket; a translation coupler coupled to said elongated horizontal member for providing slideable movement of said horizontal member along a horizontal direction which is parallel to a horizontal axis formed by a length of said elongated horizontal member; an elongated vertical member coupled to said translation coupler, said coupler providing slideable movement of said coupler along a vertical direction which is parallel to a vertical axis formed by a length of said elongated vertical member; mounting means coupled to a distal end of said elongated vertical member for attaching said distal end to a fixed object; first rotating means coupled to said frame and said bracket for rotating said frame relative to said bracket, such that said frame rotates about a first axis formed by a first diameter of said aperture; said first rotating means is comprised of a worm gear disposed along one side of said bracket, and said worm gear is coupled to a geared mating pin which is coupled to said frame to rotate said frame when said worm gear is rotated; second rotating means coupled to said elongated horizontal member and said bracket for rotating said bracket relative to said elongated horizontal member causing said frame to rotate about a second axis formed by a second diameter of said aperture, said second diameter being perpendicular to said first diameter; said frame is disposed to align with said target and an x-ray beam passing through said aperture to reach said target when said aperture center overlies said target and said aperture appears as a circle on a display; whereby alignment for said puncturing tool is provided by said aiming frame.

Claim 5

An apparatus for aiming and guiding a puncturing tool to a target located within a body by viewing it on a fluoroscopic image display, comprising: an aiming frame having a circular aperture disposed throughout; a bracket coupled to said aiming frame for supporting said frame; an elongated horizontal member having a proximal end coupled to said bracket; a translation coupler coupled to said elongated horizontal member for providing slideable movement of said horizontal member along a horizontal direction which is parallel to a horizontal axis formed by a length of said elongated horizontal member; an elongated vertical member coupled to said translation coupler, said coupler providing slideable movement of said coupler along a vertical direction which is parallel to a vertical axis formed by a length of said elongated vertical member; mounting means coupled to a distal end of said elongated vertical member for attaching said distal end to a fixed object; first rotating means coupled to said frame and said bracket for rotating said frame relative to said bracket, such that said frame rotates about a first axis formed by a first diameter of said aperture; said first rotating means is comprised of a worm gear disposed along one side of said bracket, and said worm gear is coupled to a geared mating pin which is coupled to said frame to rotate said frame when said worm gear is rotated; second rotating means coupled to said elongated horizontal member and said bracket for rotating said bracket relative to said elongated horizontal member causing said frame to rotate about a second axis formed by a second diameter of said aperture, said second diameter being perpendicular to said first diameter; said frame is disposed to align with said target and an x-ray beam passing through said aperture to reach said target when said aperture center overlies said target and said aperture appears as a circle on a display; whereby alignment for said puncturing tool is provided by said aiming frame.