Surgical instrument support and method

摘要

A surgical instrument support is provided having an articulated arm with first structure on a proximal end of the arm. A lockable target ball is rotatably mounted on a distal end of the articulated arm, and the lockable ball has a diametric hole therein for receiving and supporting a surgical instrument. A mount has second structure that receives and secures the proximal end of the articulated arm. The first structure on the articulated arm cooperates with the second structure on the mount to automatically align the proximal end of the articulated arm with the mount in a repeatable relationship. The mount is adapted to be releasably attached to a fixed structure. Thus, after establishing a desired alignment of the lockable ball to a patient, the articulated arm can be removed from the fixed structure and then subsequently remounted therein without losing the desired alignment of the lockable ball with the patient.