Mounting support assembly for suspending a medical instrument driver above an operating table

Abstract

An adjustable mounting assembly, includes a load distributing plate configured for resting on, and being supported by, a top surface of a patient table; a first clamp assembly adjustably coupled to a first side of the load distributing plate and configured for removable attachment to a first side rail of the patient table; a second clamp assembly coupled to a second side of the load distributing plate and configured for removable attachment to a second side rail of the patient table; and an adapter rail fixed to the second side of the load distributing plate and configured to detachably couple to a support assembly interface, such that an adjustable support assembly may be coupled to the load distributing plate to thereby allow for an off-center load attached to the support assembly to be moved relative to the patient table while the load remains substantially supported by the table surface.

1 . An adjustable mounting assembly for suspending an off-center load above a patient table, comprising:
 a load distributing plate configured for resting on, and being supported by, a top surface of the patient table;   a first clamp assembly adjustably coupled to a first side of the load distributing plate and configured for removable attachment to a first side rail of the patient table;   a second clamp assembly coupled to a second side of the load distributing plate and configured for removable attachment to a second side rail of the patient table; and   an adapter rail fixed to the second side of the load distributing plate and configured to detachably couple to a support assembly interface, such that an adjustable support assembly may be coupled to the load distributing plate to thereby allow for an off-center load attached to the support assembly to be moved relative to the patient table while the load remains substantially supported by the table surface.   
     
     
         2 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first clamp assembly is mounted on one or more adjustment rods that are slidably received in the first side of the load distributing plate so that the first clamp assembly may be extended from, and retracted into, the load distributing plate so as to adjust a width of the mounting assembly to accommodate a width of the patient table. 
     
     
         3 . The mounting assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising respective locking devices for securing the one or more adjustment rods in a desired position relative to the load distributing plate. 
     
     
         4 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1 , the first and second clamp assemblies each comprising an L-shaped clamp body configured to engage the respective side rail of the patient table. 
     
     
         5 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a third clamp assembly coupled to the second side of the load distributing plate at a location spaced apart from the second clamp assembly, the third clamp assembly configured for removable attachment to the second side rail of the patient table. 
     
     
         6 . The mounting assembly of  claim 5 , the third clamp assembly comprising an L-shaped clamp body configured to engage the second side rail of the patient table. 
     
     
         7 . An adjustable mounting assembly for suspending an off-center load above a patient table, comprising:
 a load distributing plate configured for resting on, and being supported by, a top surface of the patient table;   a first clamp assembly configured for removable attachment to a first side rail of the patient table, wherein the first clamp assembly is mounted on one or more adjustment rods that are slidably received in a first side of the load distributing plate to thereby allow the first clamp assembly to be extended from, and retracted into, the load distributing plate so as to adjust a width of the mounting assembly to accommodate a width of the patient table;   a second clamp assembly coupled to a second side of the load distributing plate and configured for removable attachment to a second side rail of the patient table;   a third clamp assembly coupled to the second side of the load distributing plate at a location spaced apart from the second clamp assembly, wherein the third clamp assembly is configured for removable attachment to the second side rail of the patient table; and   an adapter rail fixed to the second side of the load distributing plate and configured to detachably couple to a support assembly interface, such that an adjustable support assembly may be coupled to the load distributing plate to thereby allow for an off-center load attached to the support assembly to be moved relative to the patient table while the load remains substantially supported by the table surface.   
     
     
         8 . The mounting assembly of  claim 7 , the first clamp assembly further comprising a respective locking device for securing the one or more adjustment rods in a desired position relative to the load distributing plate. 
     
     
         9 . The mounting assembly of  claim 7 , each of the first, second and third clamp assemblies comprising an L-shaped clamp body configured to engage the respective patient table side rail.