The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 23, 1993
Filed:
Mar. 04, 1992
Anthony A Nobles, Fountain Valley, CA (US);
Neuro Navigational Corporation, Costa Mesa, CA (US);
Abstract
A ball joint for holding a neurosurgery tool in a predetermined orientation relative to a patient's skull has a plate that fits onto the skull. The plate is formed with a socket, and a ball is rotatably positioned in the socket. The ball, in turn, is formed with a bore, and the neurosurgery tool can be positioned in the bore to extend through the bore of the ball into the patient's brain. The ball can accordingly be rotated as appropriate to establish a predetermined orientation of the neurosurgery tool relative to the patient's skull. Set screws are provided to hold the neurosurgery tool stationary relative to the bore of the ball, and to hold the ball stationary relative to the plate. A retainer ring holds the ball against the plate.