Adjustable surgical platform and surgical instrument using same

Abstract

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a surgical instrument for providing an access to a target of interest of a living subject. In one embodiment, the surgical instrument has a bearing member, a shaft member and a probe. The bearing member has a first end portion, an opposite, second end portion, a body portion defined therebetween having a longitudinal axis, and a shoulder portion extending from the second end portion. The body portion defines a bore therein along the longitudinal axis. The shoulder portion defines a passage substantially coaxial with and in communication with the bore. The shaft member has an first end portion and an opposite, second end portion, and is slidably received in the bore of the bearing member. The shaft member defines a space extending from the first end portion to the second end portion. The probe has a working end portion and is received in the space of the shaft member such that the working end portion is extendable through the passage of the shoulder portion of the bearing member to reach a target of interest of a living subject so as to provide an access thereto.

1 . A surgical instrument for providing an access to a target of interest of a living subject, comprising:
 a. a bearing member having a first end portion, an opposite, second end portion, a body portion defined therebetween having a longitudinal axis, and a shoulder portion extending from the second end portion, wherein the body portion defines a bore therein along the longitudinal axis, and wherein the shoulder portion defines a passage substantially coaxial with and in communication with the bore;   b. a shaft member having a first end portion, an opposite, second end portion, and a body portion defined therebetween, slidably received in the bore, wherein the body portion defines a space therein extending from the first end portion to the second end portion;   c. a probe having a working end portion, received in the space of the shaft member such that the working end portion is substantially coaxial with and extendable through the passage of the bearing member to reach the target of interest of the living subject; and   d. a platform for receiving the shoulder portion of the bearing member and positioning the working end portion of the probe towards the target of interest of the living subject along a planned trajectory so as to provide an access thereto.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , further comprising a guiding member having a groove formed thereon and extending longitudinally from the exterior surface of the guiding member, received in the bore and positioned against the shoulder portion of the bearing member. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical instrument of  claim 2 , wherein the shaft member has a guide rail formed thereon extending longitudinally from the exterior surface of the shaft member, and engagable with the groove of the guiding member such that the shaft member is slidable in the bore of the bearing member along the longitudinal axis of the bore of the bearing member. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , further comprising a collar portion encircling the shaft member substantially at the first end portion of the shaft member. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the platform comprises a base portion and a plurality of supporting legs extending from the base portion. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical instrument of  claim 5 , wherein the base portion of the platform defines an opening for receiving the shoulder portion of the bearing member therein, and each of the plurality of supporting legs has a length that is different from or substantially identical to each other, such that when the shoulder portion of the bearing member is received in the base portion, the working end portion of the probe is positioned towards the target of interest of the living subject along the planned trajectory. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical instrument of  claim 6 , wherein the length of each of the plurality of supporting legs is fixed. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical instrument of  claim 6 , wherein the length of at least one of the plurality of supporting legs is adjustable. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical instrument of  claim 6 , wherein the shoulder portion of the bearing member comprises a step portion and a mouth portion extending from the step portion. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical instrument of  claim 9 , wherein in operation, the step portion of the shoulder portion of the bearing member is abutted against the base portion of the platform. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , further comprising a drive mechanism for driving the probe so as to provide the access to the target of interest of the living subject. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical instrument of  claim 11 , wherein the probe comprises a surgical drill. 
     
     
         13 . A surgical instrument for providing an access to a target of interest of a living subject, comprising:
 a. a bearing member having a first end portion, an opposite, second end portion, a body portion defined therebetween and having a longitudinal axis, and a shoulder portion extending from the second end portion, wherein the body portion defines a bore therein along the longitudinal axis, and wherein the shoulder portion defines a passage substantially coaxial with and in communication with the bore;   b. a shaft member having an first end portion and an opposite, second end portion, slidably received in the bore of the bearing member, wherein the shaft member defines a space extending from the first end portion to the second end portion; and   c. a probe having a working end portion, received in the space of the shaft member such that the working end portion is extendable through the passage of the shoulder portion of the bearing member.   
     
     
         14 . The surgical instrument of  claim 13 , wherein the working end portion of the probe is substantially coaxial with the passage of the shoulder portion of the bearing member. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical instrument of  claim 14 , further comprising a platform for receiving the shoulder portion of the bearing member and positioning the working end portion of the probe towards the target of interest of the living subject along a planned trajectory. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical instrument of  claim 15 , further comprising a drive mechanism for driving the probe so as to provide the access to the target of interest of the living subject. 
     
     
         17 . A surgical instrument for providing an access to a target of interest of a living subject, comprising:
 a. a bearing member having a first end portion, an opposite, second end portion, and a body portion defined therebetween and forming a bore therein along a longitudinal axis, a first bearing and a second bearing, wherein the bore is formed between the first bearing and the second bearing and substantially at the center of the body portion;   b. a first shaft member and a second shaft member received in the first bearing and the second bearing of the bearing member, respectively, each shaft member having a first end portion, an opposite, second end portion, and a body portion defined therebetween;   c. a mounting member having a first surface, an opposite, second surface, a body portion defined therebetween, a shoulder portion extending from the second surface, a passage formed through the body portion and the shoulder portion, and a first recess and a second recess formed on the first surface, wherein as assembled, the second end portions of the first shaft member and the second shaft member are received in and mounted to the first recess and the second recess, respectively, and the passage is substantially coaxial with the bore;   d. a probe having a working end portion, received in the bore of the bearing member such that the working end portion is substantially coaxial with and extendable through the passage of the mount member to the target of interest of the living subject; and   e. a platform for receiving the mounting member and positioning the working end portion of the probe towards the target of interest of the living subject along a planned trajectory so as to provide an access thereto.   
     
     
         18 . The surgical instrument of  claim 17 , wherein the platform comprises a base portion and a plurality of supporting legs extending from the base portion. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical instrument of  claim 18 , wherein the base portion of the platform defines an opening for receiving the shoulder portion of the bearing member therein, and each of the plurality of supporting legs has a length that is different from or substantially identical to each other, such that when the shoulder portion of the bearing member is received in the base portion, the working end portion of the probe is positioned towards the target of interest of the living subject along the planned trajectory. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical instrument of  claim 19 , wherein the length of each of the plurality of supporting legs is fixed. 
     
     
         21 . The surgical instrument of  claim 19 , wherein the length of at least one of the plurality of supporting legs is adjustable. 
     
     
         22 . The surgical instrument of  claim 17 , further comprising a collar member having a first surface, an opposite, second surface, a body portion defined therebetween forming a passage therein extending from the center of the first surface to the center of the second surface, and a first recess and a second recess formed on the second surface, and wherein as assembled, the first end portions of the first shaft member and the second shaft member are received in and mounted to the first recess and the second recess of the collar member, respectively, and the passage of the collar member is substantially coaxial with the bore of the bearing member. 
     
     
         23 . The surgical instrument of  claim 22 , further comprising a drive mechanism for driving the probe. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical instrument of  claim 23 , wherein when the probe is driven by the drive mechanism, the bearing member is movable accordingly between a first position and a second position, together with the probe, to allow the working end portion to open the access to the target of interest of the living subject and withdraw from the access to the target of interest of the living subject. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical instrument of  claim 24 , wherein when the bearing member is moved between a first position and a second position, the bearing member moves slidably along the first shaft and the second shaft. 
     
     
         26 . The surgical instrument of  claim 25 , wherein when the bearing member is moved to the first position, the first end portion of the bearing member is in contact with the second surface of the collar member, and wherein when the bearing member is moved to the second position, the second end portion of the bearing member is in contact with the first surface of the mounting member. 
     
     
         27 . A surgical instrument for providing an access to a target of interest of a living subject, comprising:
 a. a bearing member having a first end portion, an opposite, second end portion, and a body portion defined therebetween forming a bore therein along a longitudinal axis, a first bearing and a second bearing;   b. a first shaft member and a second shaft member slidably received in the first bearing and the second bearing of the bearing member, respectively;   c. a mounting member having a first surface, an opposite, second surface, a body portion defined therebetween forming a passage therein, and a first recess and a second recess formed on the first surface, wherein as assembled, one end of the first shaft member and one end of the second shaft member are received in and mounted to the first recess and the second recess, and the passage is substantially coaxial with the bore;   d. a probe having a working end portion, received in the bore of the bearing member such that the working end portion is substantially coaxial with and extendable through the passage of the mounting member.   
     
     
         28 . The surgical instrument of  claim 27 , further comprising a platform for receiving the mounting member and positioning the working end portion of the probe towards the target of interest of the living subject along a planned trajectory. 
     
     
         29 . The surgical instrument of  claim 28 , further comprising a drive mechanism for driving the probe so as to provide the access to the target of interest of the living subject. 
     
     
         30 - 66 . (canceled)