| 摘要 |
A device is provided for stabilizing and positioning an otherwise hand-held medical instrument, such as a biopsy power driver and probe, to ensure the ability to accurately place the probe into the breast and maintain position relative to a particular tissue site from any desired entry point. The device comprises a main arm having a generally vertical portion and a generally horizontal portion. A clamping assembly permits attachment of the apparatus to a stationary object, which is preferably an examination table, and includes a locking clamp having a gripping mode and a releasing mode for alternately gripping and releasing the main arm, and a lever assembly for actuating the locking clamp between the gripping mode and the releasing mode. A horizontal clamp, attached to the generally horizontal portion of the main arm, provides support for an articulating arm assembly having a first arm portion, or upper arm, and a second arm portion, or forearm, wherein the upper arm and forearm are attached together by an elbow joint, so that they may be articulated relative to one another about a common axis disposed through the elbow. A mounting bracket for securing the biopsy power driver and probe is attached to a distal end of the forearm. The elbow joint attaching the upper arm and forearm of the articulating arm assembly comprises a spring loaded counterbalance mechanism which functions to support the weight of the medical instrument, thereby giving the instrument a weightless feel during the positioning process, which prevents fatigue on the part of a user and therefore permits more delicate and precise movements of the instrument. |
