Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
381 words
A universal joint clamp for connecting members of a surgical retraction system relative to one another, said universal joint clamp comprising: (i) a shaft member having a first set of threads disposed along a segment of the outer surface of said shaft member; (ii) a first clamp member carried by said shaft member and having a first constrictable gripping surface for disposition relative to one of the members of a surgical retraction system for constricting against the one member for securing the one member in a fixed position relative to said first clamp member, and first clamp member including a first contact surface for receiving a force to cause said first constrictable gripping surface to constrict; (iii) a second clamp member carried by said shaft member and having a second constrictable gripping surface for disposition relative to another of the members of the surgical retraction system for constricting against the other member for securing the other member in a fixed position relative to said second clamp member, said second clamp member including a second contact surface for receiving a force to cause said second constrictable gripping surface to constrict; said second clamp member rotable and slidable relative to said first clamp member and said second clamp member for applying a force to said first contact surface when said clamp members are forced together; (iv) knob member having a second set of threads mateable with said first set of threads for causing movement of said knob member along said shaft member, said knob member located distally from said first and second jaw members and being manually rotatable for applying a force to said second contact surface and for forcing said clamp members together to constrict said first and second constrictable surfaces; (v) first stop member for preventing removal of said first clamp member from one end of said shaft member, said first stop member cooperating with said knob member to fix said clamp members relative to said shaft; and (vi) second stop means for preventing removal of said knob member from the other end of said shaft member, and second stop means being spaced a distance from said segment for permitting said knob member to move to a position which permits cleaning and lubrication of said first and second set of threads.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
381 words
A universal joint clamp for connecting members of a surgical retraction system relative to one another, said universal joint clamp comprising: (i) a shaft member having a first set of threads disposed along a segment of the outer surface of said shaft member; (ii) a first clamp member carried by said shaft member and having a first constrictable gripping surface for disposition relative to one of the members of a surgical retraction system for constricting against the one member for securing the one member in a fixed position relative to said first clamp member, and first clamp member including a first contact surface for receiving a force to cause said first constrictable gripping surface to constrict; (iii) a second clamp member carried by said shaft member and having a second constrictable gripping surface for disposition relative to another of the members of the surgical retraction system for constricting against the other member for securing the other member in a fixed position relative to said second clamp member, said second clamp member including a second contact surface for receiving a force to cause said second constrictable gripping surface to constrict; said second clamp member rotable and slidable relative to said first clamp member and said second clamp member for applying a force to said first contact surface when said clamp members are forced together; (iv) knob member having a second set of threads mateable with said first set of threads for causing movement of said knob member along said shaft member, said knob member located distally from said first and second jaw members and being manually rotatable for applying a force to said second contact surface and for forcing said clamp members together to constrict said first and second constrictable surfaces; (v) first stop member for preventing removal of said first clamp member from one end of said shaft member, said first stop member cooperating with said knob member to fix said clamp members relative to said shaft; and (vi) second stop means for preventing removal of said knob member from the other end of said shaft member, and second stop means being spaced a distance from said segment for permitting said knob member to move to a position which permits cleaning and lubrication of said first and second set of threads.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A retraction system according to claim 1 wherein said first clamp member includes a support surface; and wherein said second clamp member includes locating means for cooperating with said support surface for locating said second clamp member relative to said shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A retraction system according to claim 2 wherein said support surface and said locating means further cooperate to prevent contact between said second clamp member and said first set of threads when said clamp members are forced together.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A retraction system according to claim 2 wherein said support surface is frustumconical in shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A retraction system according to claim 2 wherein said locating means includes an indentation surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A retraction system according to claim 5 wherein said indentation surface is of a size to permit access to said first set of threads for cleaning and lubrication.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A retraction system according to claim 5 wherein said indentation surface is frustumconical in shape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A retraction system according to claim 1 wherein said first stop means comprise a dowel pin disposed at one end of said shaft member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A retraction system according to claim 8 wherein said dowel pin fixes said first clamp member relative to said shaft member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A retraction system according to claim 1 wherein said second stop means includes a flathead screw driven along the longitudinal axis of said shaft member at said other end thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A retraction system according to claim 1 wherein said first contact surface includes a frustumconical surface having an axis colinear with the longitudinal axis of said shaft member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A retraction system according to claim 1 wherein said first constrictable surface is cylindrical in shape having a longitudinal gap defined by a pair of longitudinal edges, said edges being moveable to restrict the volume circumscribed by said first constrictable surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A retraction system according to claim 12 wherein said pair of edges define a pair of parallel surfaces through which passes said shaft member at an angle of substantially 90 degrees.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
A retraction system according to claim 1 and further including a washer disposed on said shaft member between said knob member and said second clamp member, said washer contacting said second contact surface to transmit a force supplied by said knob member to said second contact surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A retraction system according to claim 1 wherein said second clamp member includes a bore through which said first set of threads extends.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A retraction system according to claim 15 wherein said bore is of a size to permit access to said first set of threads for cleaning and lubrication.