POSITIONING APPARATUS WITH LOCKABLE JOINTS AND METHOD OF USE

Title:

POSITIONING APPARATUS WITH LOCKABLE JOINTS AND METHOD OF USE

Document Type and Number:

WIPO Patent Application WO/2011/008828

Kind Code:

A3

Abstract:

A positioning system having a base, a manually movable end effector and a first joint interposed between the base and the end effector is disclosed. The first joint may comprise a proximal portion and a distal portion coupled together by magnetic attraction and configured to be intermittently separated by a pressurized gas cushion. The first joint may be configured to be changeable between a movable state and a fixed state. In the movable state, the proximal and distal portions are separated by the pressurized gas cushion and are movable relative to each other. In the fixed state, the proximal and distal portions contact each other and relative movement is thereby impeded. Methods of precisely positioning an end effector may include providing a device having a base, a first joint located distally from the base, and an end effector located distally from the first joint. The first joint may have two portions separated by a gas cushion, the first joint allowing the end effector to be movable with respect to the base. The method may further comprise manually positioning the end effector, and removing the gas cushion to cause the two joint portions to contact each other, thereby locking the end effector in the precise location in which it was positioned.

Inventors:

SALISBURY J KENNETH JR (US)
SAVALL JOAN (US)

Application Number:

PCT/US2010/041933

Publication Date:

March 31, 2011

Filing Date:

July 14, 2010

Export Citation:

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Assignee:

UNIV LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR (US)
SALISBURY J KENNETH JR (US)
SAVALL JOAN (US)

International Classes:

B25J17/00; A61B17/00; A61B19/00; A61F11/00; F16C11/06

Domestic Patent References:

WO2003007345A1

2003-01-23

Foreign References:

US20050087034A1	2005-04-28
US6240799B1	2001-06-05